Rep. Onder Newsletter: Speaking About Parents’ Rights and Protecting Children

This week, I was honored to participate in an Illinois Right to Life panel alongside leaders who have dedicated their lives to protecting children, defending women, and fighting for parental rights. Our discussion focused on the principle that parents should always have the right and responsibility to be involved in the decisions that affect their children's health and well-being.

I was joined by Dr. Carrie Mendoza, an accomplished emergency medicine physician who helped develop legislation in Texas protecting parents' access to their minor children's healthcare records. Dr. Mendoza discussed recent changes in Illinois that restrict parental access to certain medical records and show the risks these policies can create for young women and girls. Her remarks highlighted the critical importance of transparency and parental involvement in healthcare decisions.

The keynote speaker for the event was Chloe Cole, a courageous young woman in whose honor I named legislation I introduced in the House. Chloe spoke publicly about the lasting physical and emotional consequences she experienced after undergoing transgender procedures as a minor. Her willingness to share her experience has helped shed light on an issue affecting a growing number of young people across the country. Sadly, Chloe's story is not unique. More detransitioners are coming forward to share their experiences with puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries, and many are now pursuing legal action against the medical providers and institutions they believe failed to protect them.

Too many parents feel powerless as certain laws and policies continue to erode their ability to guide and protect their children. The Chloe Cole Act would allow families to hold clinics and hospitals accountable for the harm these dangerous procedures cause, create a private right of action for affected individuals and their families, and extend the statute of limitations to ensure victims have adequate time to seek justice.

Parents deserve a seat at the table when it comes to their children's healthcare, and children deserve protection from irreversible medical decisions they are not mature enough to make. It was truly an honor to attend this panel, and I will continue fighting in Congress to defend parental rights and protect America's children.