I want to adhere to the protocols of the floor. If I did not, I would shout from the rooftops as a mother and a happy grandmother that I champion parental rights and parents. I am happy to have been one and to continue to be one, and I view parenthood and parents' rights as cherished rights. Not one Democrat here would argue against that principle. In fact, there is no doubt that we, as Democrats, have fought for parents and their rights. Child tax credits should now be made permanent, taking care of additional childcare for those parents who are burdened, and for those who need housing, investing more so that children have roofs over their heads, as well as ensuring that no one is left alone looking for housing. Why I cannot support H.R. 5 is not because of my championing parents' rights. Before I came here from Houston, I was with parents, fighting against the devastating takeover by a Republican Governor and State education commissioner of a school district that has a rating of B. I am against undermining nutrition in schools. That is in this bill. I am against undermining vulnerable children, such as transgender children. I am against banning books, such as a book about a Black astrologist, a scientist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, or the story of a man ultimately of peace who brought South Africa together, Nelson Mandela. Banned books, I am against that. I am against it because I want to make sure that parents want to have involvement in what their children learn.…
Share
More from Sheila Jackson Lee
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for having this Special Order Hour. What a privilege to know Donald Payne, Sr., and to know Donald Payne, Jr. I sat here tonight listening to my colleagues struggle with how they will describe this…
Let me be very clear: We cannot shut this government down. Mr. Speaker, 4 pages, 5 pages, or 20 pages of a stopgap measure, the government cannot shut down. The rules of this House and Senate require the Congress to do its work. As the…
Let me pay tribute to the Congressional Black Caucus and the managers tonight for honoring Black History Month. I look forward to participating this month of February to honor the great history and excellence of African Americans. At this…
I am here today to speak in opposition to the proposed legislation, H. Con. Res. 86--Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. Days away from a shutdown of their own making, my…





