Miller files ‘parental rights’ constitutional amendment, blasts Illinois’ policies

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller says parental rights are being diminished and it’s time they speak up.

Before filing a proposed constitutional amendment relating to parental rights, Miller said too many policies diminish what she said is the country’s foundation on faith and family.

“And, yes, in Illinois attack on parental rights, you can see it in J.B. Pritzker’s emergency declarations, on and on, during COVID,” Miller told The Center Square.

Such declarations closed schools and required masks for children during the pandemic.

Miller also criticized policies Democrats implement in public schools and attempts to interfere with home schooling.

“Parents need to show up to the school boards,” Miller said. “Communities will thrive when the parents and the schools work together and provide excellent education for our children.”

Miller also criticized Illinois rescinding parental notification of minor children getting abortions.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois said in an online posting: “With [the Parental Notification Act] no longer law as of June 1, 2022 young people now have the same right to make confidential decisions about having an abortion, and are no longer required to go to court to access an abortion.”

After the bill repealing the PNA was passed, Gov. J.B. Pritzker applauded the move.

“This repeal was essential, because it was the most vulnerable pregnant minors who were being hurt most by this law: victims of rape, incest and physical abuse,” Pritzker in 2021.

Miller said allowing minor children to get an abortion without their parents being notified is “insane.”

“J.B. Pritzker is turning our state into, basically, a destination state for pedophiles to bring their abused young girls in for abortions,” Miller said.

Miller has filed a measure to require parental consent for another recently enacted Illinois policy for mental health screenings in public schools.

“It is going to require schools to have written consent from the parents before they can do any kind of survey or psychological exam on the student,” Miller said.

The current law Pritzker enacted gives parents the ability to opt out, not to opt in.

Supporters of the mental health screenings law said it was important to address the growing mental health crisis among youth.

“No child should have to struggle in silence. This bill is a proactive way we can integrate early detection, because too often warning signs are missed or dismissed, and kids fall through the cracks,” said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago.

Miller’s U.S. House Joint Resolution 127 for parental rights says, among other things, “The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right.”

“The parental right to direct education includes the right to choose, as an alternative to public education, private, religious, or home schools, and the right to make reasonable choices within public schools for one’s child,” the measure says.

A proposed amendment requires either two-thirds of Congress to approve or a national convention of two-thirds of the states. Any amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become effective.