,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #fej  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #bc1 #bjbe,ms4
 ,foxx 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,web] ( ,texas1  
,mr4 ,rose1 ,mrs4 ,mill] ( ,ill9ois1    
,mr4 ,bilirakis1 ,mr4 ,higg9s (         
,l\isiana1 ,mr4 ,gu?rie1 ,mr4 ,f9/ad1   
,mr4 ,l\d]milk1 ,mr4 ,mc,cormick1 & ,mr4
 ,h>idopolos7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !       
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect ! "r (
 p>5ts to direct ! upbr++ ( _! *ildr5 z 
a fundam5tal "r4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is  
,act may be cit$ z ! ,families' ,rights 
& ,responsibilities ,act4  #b4          
,congressional f9d+s & decl>ation (     
purposes  7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !   
foll[+3 7#a7 ,! nature ( ! p>5t-*ild    
relation%ip end[s p>5ts ) ! prim>y      
responsibility & obligation to c>e = _! 
*ild4  7#b7 ,f ^! responsibilities &    
obligations comes ! pre-political1      
natural "r ( p>5ts to c>e = _! *ildr54  
7#c7 ,! role ( p>5ts 9 ! rais+ & re>+ ( 
_! *ildr5 is ( ine/imable value & des]v+

 ( bo? praise & protection by all levels
 ( gov]nm5t4  7#d7 ,?is "r z recogniz$ 9
 ! traditions ( we/]n civilization      
recognizes t p>5ts h ! responsibility to
 love1 nurture1 raise1 & protect _!     
*ildr54  7#e7 ,! "r encompasses !       
au?ority ( p>5ts to direct ! upbr++1    
education1 & heal? c>e ( _! *ildr5      
accord+ to ! dictates ( _! consci5ce1 to
 direct ! upbr++1 education1 & heal? c>e
 ( _! *ildr5 9 _! own beliefs &         
religion1 & to be ! prim>y decision mak]
 = _! *ild until ! *ild rea*es adul?ood4
  7#f7 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt has consi/5tly 
recogniz$ ! prim>y role ( p>5ts 9 c>+ = 
*ildr51 conclud+ ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,the    
*ild is n ! m]e creature ( ! /ate2 ^? :o
 nurture him & direct 8 de/9y h ! "r1   
c\pl$ ) ! high duty1 to recognize &     
prep>e him = additional obligations4    
,pi]ce v4 ,soc'y ( ! ,si/]s ( ! ,holy   
,names ( ,jesus  ,m>y1 #bfh ,u4,s4 #eaj1
 #ece 7#aibe74  7,b7 ,it is ! natural   
duty ( ! p>5t to give 8 *ildr5 education
 suitable to _! /ation 9 life4 ,mey] v4 

,nebraska1 #bfb ,u4,s4 #cij1 #djj       
7#aibc74  7,c7 ,x is pla9 t ! int]e/ ( a
 p>5t 9 ! companion%ip1 c>e1 cu/ody1 &  
managem5t ( 8 or h] *ildr5 comes to ?is 
,c\rt ) a mom5tum = respect lack+ :5    
appeal is made to lib]ties :i* d]ive    
m]ely f %ift+ economic arrangem5ts4     
,/anley v4 ,ill9ois1 #dje ,u4,s4 #fde1  
#fea 7#aigb74  7,d7 ,! hi/ory & culture 
( ,we/]n civilization reflect a /rong   
tradition ( p>5tal conc]n = ! nurture & 
upbr++ ( _! *ildr54 ,?is prim>y role ( !
 p>5ts 9 ! upbr++ ( _! *ildr5 is n[     
e/abli%$ beyond debate z an endur+      
,am]ican tradition4 ,wiscons9 v4 ,yod]1 
#djf ,u4,s4 #bje1 #bcb 7#aigb74  7,e7   
,our jurisprud5ce hi/orically has       
reflect$ ,we/]n civilization concepts ( 
! family z a unit ) broad p>5tal        
au?ority ov] m9or *ildr54 ,our cases h  
consi/5tly foll[$ t c\rse4 ,p>ham v4 ,j4
 ,r41 #ddb ,u4,s4 #ehd1 #fjb 7#aigi74   
7,f7 ,we h recogniz$ on num]\s occasions
 t ! relation%ip betwe5 p>5t & *ild is  
con/itutionally protect$4,quillo9 v4    

,walcott1 #dcd ,u4,s4 #bdf1 #bee        
7#aigh74  7,g7 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt has    
expla9$ t ! lib]ty specially protect$ by
 ! ,due ,process ,clause includes ! "r  
to direct ! education & upbr++ ( "o's   
*ildr54 ,wa%+ton v4 ,glucksb]g1 #eba    
,u4,s4 #gjb1 #gbj 7#aiig74  7,h7 ,we h  
recogniz$ ! fundam5tal "r ( p>5ts to    
make decisions conc]n+ ! c>e1 cu/ody1 & 
control ( _! *ildr5 4 4 4 ,9 light ( ?is
 ext5sive prec$5t1 x _c n[ be d\bt$ t ! 
,due ,process ,clause ( ! ,f\rte5?      
,am5dm5t protects ! fundam5tal "r (     
p>5ts to make decisions conc]n+ ! c>e1  
cu/ody1 & control ( _! *ildr54 ,troxel  
v4 ,granville1 #ecj ,u4,s4 #eg1 #ff     
7#bjjj7 7plurality op474  7,i7 ,the ,due
 ,process ,clause does n p]mit a ,/ate  
to infr+e on ! fundam5tal "r ( p>5ts to 
make *ild re>+ decisions simply because 
a /ate judge believes a bett] decision  
c\ld be made4 ,troxel1 #ecj ,u4,s4 at   
#gb-gc 7plurality op474  7#g7 ,"s       
decisions ( ,f$]al c\rts h fail$ to     
recognize ! fundam5tal "r ( p>5ts1      

result+ 9 an improp] /&>d ( judicial    
review be+ appli$ to gov]nm5t conduct t 
adv]sely affects p>5tal rights &        
pr]ogatives4  7#h7 ,gov]nm5t ag5cies h  
increas+ly intrud$ into ! legitimate    
decisions & pr]ogatives ( p>5ts 9       
situations t d n involve abuse or       
neglect b simply an ag5cy's disagreem5t 
) p>5t+ *oices bas$ on dec5t & honorable
 religi\s or philosophical premises4    
7#i7 ,gov]nm5t's involvem5t 9 p>5t+ %\ld
 prioritize ! p>5t's role z ! *ild's    
prim>y educator & %\ld support1 n       
supplant1 ! p>5t's rights &             
responsibilities4  7#aj7 ,gov]nm5t %\ld 
n int]f]e 9 ! decisions & actions (     
p>5ts )\t compell+ ju/ification4  7#aa7 
,! /rict scrut9y te/ us$ by c\rts to    
evaluate cases conc]n+ fundam5tal rights
 is ! correct /&>d ( review = gov]nm5t  
actions t int]f]e ) ! "r ( p>5ts to     
direct ! upbr++1 education1 & heal? c>e 
( _! *ildr51 & x appropriately balances 
! int]e/s ( p>5ts1 *ildr51 & gov]nm5t4  
7b7 ,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is ,act    

are-- 7#a7 to protect ! "r ( p>5ts to   
direct ! upbr++ ( _! *ildr5 z a         
fundam5tal "r2 &  7#b7 :ile protect+ !  
"r ( p>5ts1 to ackn[l$ge t ! rights     
involve responsibilities & specifically 
t p>5ts h ! responsibility = !          
education1 nurture1 & upbr++ ( _! *ildr5
 z specifi$ by ! ,supreme ,c\rt 9 ,mey] 
v4 ,nebraska1 #bfb ,u4,s4 #cij1 #djj    
7#aibc71 ,wiscons9 v4 ,yod]1 #djf ,u4,s4
 #bje1 #bcb 7#aigb71 & ,wa%+ton v4      
,glucksb]g1 #eba ,u4,s4 #gjb1 #gbj      
7#aiig71 & h ! high duty to recognize & 
prep>e _! *ildr5 = additional           
obligations z specifi$ by ! ,supreme    
,c\rt 9 ,pi]ce v4 ,soc'y ( ! ,si/]s ( ! 
,holy ,names ( ,jesus  ,m>y1 #bfh ,u4,s4
 #eaj1 #ece 7#aibe74  #c4 ,def9itions ,9
 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,gov]nm5t ,! t]m        
gov]nm5t includes a bran*1 dep>tm5t1    
ag5cy1 in/rum5tality1 & (ficial 7or o!r 
p]son act+ "u color ( law7 ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 !       
,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico1 & ea*      
t]ritory & possession ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4

  7#b7 ,p>5t ,! t]m p>5t means a        
biological p>5t ( a *ild1 an adoptive   
p>5t ( a *ild1 or an individual :o has  
be5 grant$ exclusive "r & au?ority ov] !
 welf>e ( a *ild "u ,/ate law4  7#c7    
,*ild ,! t]m *ild means an individual :o
 has n atta9$ #ah ye>s ( age4  7#d7     
,sub/antial burd5 ,! t]m sub/antial     
burd5-- 7,a7 means any action t directly
 or indirectly con/ra9s1 inhibits1      
curtails1 or d5ies ! "r ( p>5ts to      
direct ! upbr++1 education1 & heal? c>e 
( _! *ild or compels any action contr>y 
to ! "r ( p>5ts to direct ! upbr++1     
education1 & heal? c>e ( _! *ild2 &     
7,b7 includes )hold+ b5efits1 assess+   
crim9al1 civil1 or adm9i/rative p5alties
 or damages1 or exclusion f gov]nm5tal  
programs4  #d4 ,protection ( p>5tal     
rights  7a7 ,9 g5]al  7#a7 ,fundam5tal  
"r ,! lib]ty ( p>5ts to direct ! upbr++1
 education1 & heal? c>e ( _! *ildr5 is a
 fundam5tal "r4  7#b7 ,limits on        
gov]nm5t int]f]5ce ,gov]nm5t %all n     
sub/antially burd5 ! fundam5tal "r (    

p>5ts to direct ! upbr++1 education1 &  
heal? c>e ( _! *ildr5 )\t demon/rat+ t !
 infr+em5t is requir$ by a compell+     
gov]nm5tal int]e/ ( ! highe/ ord] z     
appli$ to ! p>5t & ! *ild & is ! lea/   
re/rictive means ( fur!r+ t compell+    
gov]nm5tal int]e/4 ,! fundam5tal rights 
protect$ include1 )\t limitation1 !     
foll[+ rights & responsibilities3 7,a7  
,to direct ! education ( ! *ild4  7,b7  
,to direct ! moral or religi\s upbr++ ( 
! *ild4  7,c7 ,to access & review all   
m$ical records ( ! *ild & to make &     
cons5t to all physical & m5tal heal? c>e
 decisions = ! *ild4  7#c7 ,effect ( ?is
 ,act on o!r rights ,unless legally     
waiv$ or legally t]m9at$1 p>5ts h       
inali5able rights t are m compreh5sive  
?an ^? li/$ 9 ?is section4 ,?is ,act    
does n prescribe all rights ( p>5ts1 nor
 does x preempt or =eclose claims or    
rem$ies 9 support ( p>5tal rights t are 
available "u any o!r ,f$]al law1 ,/ate  
law1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution1 or a 
,/ate con/itution4  7b7 ,exceptions ,?is

 section does n apply to a p>5tal action
 or decision t w\ld result 9 s]i\s      
physical injury to ! *ild or t w\ld end 
life4  7c7 ,judicial rem$y ,any p>5t may
 raise a violation ( ?is ,act z a claim 
or a def5se 9 an action 9 a ,f$]al or   
,/ate c\rt or be=e an adm9i/rative      
tribunal & obta9 appropriate relief     
aga9/ a gov]nm5t4 ,/&+ to ass]t a claim 
or def5se "u ?is section %all be gov]n$ 
by ! g5]al rules ( /&+ "u article ,,iii 
( ! ,con/itution4  #e4 ,attorneys fees  
7a7 ,judicial ,proce$+s ,section        
#gbb7;b7 ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #aihh7;b77 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
! ,families' ,rights & ,responsibilities
 ,act1 be=e title ,,vi ( ! ,civil       
,rights ,act ( #aifd4  7b7 ,adm9i/rative
 ,proce$+s ,section #ejd7;b77#a77;,c7 ( 
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ 
by /rik+ ! ,religi\s ,fre$om ,re/oration
 ,act ( #aiic & ins]t+ any adjudication 
"u ! ,religi\s ,fre$om ,re/oration ,act 
( #aiic or ! ,families' ,rights &       
,responsibilities ,act4  #f4            

,applicability  7a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,?is ,act 
applies to ea* ,f$]al law1 & !          
implem5tation ( any su* law1 :e!r       
/atutory or o!rwise1 & :e!r adopt$ be=e 
or aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4   
7b7 ,rule ( con/ruction  7#a7           
,additional rights ,! protections ( !   
fundam5tal "r ( p>5ts to direct !       
upbr++1 education1 & heal? c>e ( _!     
*ildr5 af=d$ by ?is ,act are 9 addition 
to ! protections provid$ "u ,f$]al law1 
,/ate law1 & ! ,/ate & ,f$]al           
con/itutions4  7#b7 ,broad protection   
,?is ,act %all be con/ru$ 9 favor ( a   
broad protection ( ! fundam5tal "r (    
p>5ts to direct ! upbr++1 education1 &  
heal? c>e ( _! *ildr54  7#c7 ,no        
gov]nm5t burd5 ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be 
con/ru$ to au?orize any gov]nm5t to     
burd5 ! fundam5tal "r ( p>5ts to direct 
! upbr++1 education1 & heal? c>e ( _!   
*ildr54  7#d7 ,subsequ5tly enact$ laws  
,f$]al /atutory law adopt$ aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act is subject to ?is
 ,act1 unless su* law explicitly        

excludes su* application by ref]5ce to  
?is ,act4