We need your assistance in our continuing efforts to Fight the Right. We need your help to stop S. 984, the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act, introduced by Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa. The bill, if passed, would pre-empt many state, local, and federal laws created to protect and educate children. This bill is part of the Christian Coalition's "Contract with the American Family" and would allow an unhappy parent to sue in federal court in order to stop any educational, health care, or social service program they don't like.

 

UPDATE: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts passed S. 984 by a vote of 4 to 3. The full Senate Judiciary Committee will have a mark-up session on May 9th; a slim margin of one or two votes will determine what happens with the PRRA. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) are considered key members on this vote; NOW members are urged to contact them to oppose the PRRA.

Critics of the legislation say that it will result in endless, costly litigation and bankrupt local school districts. They also note that many beneficial government programs would become paralyzed because of fear of lawsuits against the agency. Basically, S. 984 overrides school boards, local governments, and state legislatures' decision-making processes by substituting a federal judge's opinion in virtually any aspect of education, child or adolescent health care.

Although innocuous sounding, S. 984 actually has wide-spread, disrupting consequences if allowed to pass. The bill limits the ability of the federal government to become involved in the family except in cases where there is already "clear and convincing evidence" -- this means that children may be forced to remain with abusive parents because the government will be unable to investigate the situation without fear of litigation. The bill could also make it impossible for teens to get adequate sexuality education and health care without parents' consent.

With this bill, the Christian Coalition wants to impose their own religious-based curriculum on public schools, and, in the end, to force public funding of sectarian education. This bill is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation to be considered by the U.S. Congress in this term.

The message to send to your senators:

Please vote against S.984, Senator Grassley's "Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act." This legislation is unneeded and dangerous. It overrides existing state child safety laws and will endanger our children if passed. The bill is a huge, unfunded federal mandate which could result in untold billions of legal costs for schools districts and local governments to defend against frivolous litigation by the right wing. Additionally, needed protections for neglected and abused children will be superseded. To preserve our greatest resource, America's children, vote against this measure.

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