III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 493 

Recognizing the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower all parents 

with the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their 

children and to combat destructive ideologies like Critical Race Theory 

promoted by many public schools. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 19 (legislative day, JANUARY 18), 2022 

Mr. LANKFORD (for himself, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. BRAUN, Mrs. 

HYDE-SMITH, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. 

DAINES, and Mr. WICKER) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower all parents with the freedom to choose the best 

educational environment for their children and to combat 

destructive ideologies like Critical Race Theory promoted 

by many public schools. 

Whereas the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the 

United States provides every American with equal protection under the law; 

Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 

United States protects Americans against compelled 

speech; 


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2 

•SRES 493 IS 

Whereas the idea that any race, ethnicity, color, or national 

origin is inherently superior or inferior should not be 

forced into any required curriculum; 

Whereas teaching students that they are guilty or victimized 

based on the color of their skin is inherently discriminatory and anti-American; 

Whereas parents should have the ability to choose a school 

for their child based on their child’s individual needs, 

academic goals, and personal and religious beliefs; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic caused schools across the 

country to close for a significant amount of time, creating a loss in learning progress and social and emotional 

skills for many students; 

Whereas COVID–19-related school closures and policy 

changes should ensure that the individualized educational 

plans for students with special needs and disabilities are 

met; 

Whereas parents are seeking more options for their child’s 

schooling due to learning loss, mask mandates, and 

COVID–19 vaccine mandates that many States and 

schools are imposing; 

Whereas school choice is more important than ever to ensure 

that children can attend the school that works best for 

them and in light of the threats imposed by Critical Race 

Theory and overreaching mandates regarding COVID– 

19; 

Whereas it is documented that certain school boards are actively silencing the voices of concerned parents and impeding their ability to have a say in their children’s education; and 


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3 

•SRES 493 IS 

Whereas Attorney General Merrick Garland has abused his 

office by directing Federal law enforcement to engage in 

local issues, thus threatening legitimately concerned parents away from advocating for their children’s right to a 

quality and unbiased education: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes and promotes the importance of 

3 parental involvement in their child’s education; and 

4 (2) recognizes the necessity of school choice as 

5 a tool to empower all parents with the freedom to 

6 choose the best educational environment for their 

7 children and to reject the destructive ideologies pro8 moted by many public schools, such as Critical Race 

9 Theory. 

Æ 


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