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Markup erupts over Stop Sexualization of Children Act; critics call it censorship
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Summary
HR 7661, the Stop Sexualization of Children Act, prompted heated, bipartisan debate. Sponsors said the bill prevents federal funds from supporting explicit materials for minors; opponents warned it would chill Holocaust education, censor transgender people and impose federal controls on local curricula. Multiple amendments and roll-call votes were recorded.
Representative Miller introduced HR 7661 (Stop the Sexualization of Children Act), saying taxpayer funds should not support "explicit" materials for minors and named several contemporary books he said were inappropriate for schools. Supporters described the bill as protecting age‑appropriate instruction and parents' rights.
Opponents, including Representatives McBath, Bonamici, Cano and others, argued the bill's definitions are overly broad, could ban teaching historical atrocities or classic art and would federalize curriculum decisions currently made by states and local school boards. Several amendments were offered to narrow the definition or to exempt historical accounts, cultural instruction and classic works; the committee debated specific exemptions (including removing transgender identity from the bill's definition of "sexually oriented material") and ordered multiple roll‑call votes, some of which were postponed.
The committee adopted certain Democratic amendments by recorded votes and ultimately agreed to an amendment in the nature of a substitute; the transcript records multiple roll-call tallies for amendments and motions and shows the bill reported to the House with amendments and committee recommendations.
