1. United States
2. Del.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to VOTE NO on H.R. 2616 because it would require educators to betray their students and violate their own professional standards. This bill represents a major intrusion of the federal government where it does not belong—in curricular issues that should be debated and decided locally, as well as private matters of student identity. School communities would become less safe and less welcoming for many students, as well as educators. Teachers, counselors, nurses, and other school staff could be required to “out” transgender and non-binary students despite the damaging repercussions. Such students are already at heightened risk of harassment and bullying. This bill would make them even more vulnerable. In addition, the bill’s overly vague definitions of certain terms could lead to censorship that undermines the essence of a good education: exposure to different perspectives in an age-appropriate manner. Please stand with our students and VOTE NO on H.R. 2616.