Rep. Leger Fernández: “H.R. 5 Would Sow Conflict and Censorship In Our Schools”
Washington, DC,
March 24, 2023
Today, the Republican controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5, which would place political discord over education, force trans students out of the closet and sow conflict in our schools. Rep. Leger Fernández released the following statement: “With this bill, Republicans are taking their divisive culture wars to our local schools — undermining students, parents, and teachers. Nothing in this bill does anything to hire more teachers, fix our schools, prepare our children for the challenges of the 21st century, or get students the individualized support they need—all things parents support. Instead, H.R. 5 would have the federal government interfere in our local school decisions - setting Congress up as a National School Board. It opens the door to book bans and curriculum censorship. In our country, approximately 68% of LGBTQ+ students say they feel unsafe at school, and this bill would force them out of the closet. Last year, around 45% of LGBTQ+ youth considered suicide, which continues to rise. This bill would make students vulnerable to bullying and emotional hardship. Nothing kills more kids in America than gun violence. House Republicans have not held a single hearing on gun safety, but they have found time to advance censorship and book bans that deprive students of an accurate and fact-based education. Last year, in a Democratically controlled Congress, we passed the Safer Communities Act to provide mental health resources to schools and keep guns out of the hands of students. The extreme Republicans pushing H.R. 5 voted against the Safer Communities Act - legislation that actually helps our schoolchildren. The Republican’s book bans do not keep our children safe. In contrast, House Democrats last cycle sent over $1 billion to New Mexico’s schools to provide behavioral health services and assistance in combating the pandemic. As a parent who participated in my children’s school activities, I know that parents are partners, not adversaries, in our children's education. I am a proud and original co-sponsor of H.Res.219, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici’s plan which would make sure our kids receive a well-rounded education, schools have funding and staff resources, and that parents and families are partners in the process.” Leger Fernández is also an original cosponsor of the Education Enhancement Act, which passed in the FY2023 omnibus spending package and authorized historic investments in early childhood education in New Mexico.
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