Chip Roy Undermined Child Protection Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives took a historic stand for children and parental rights by passing the Protect Children’s Innocence Act this week, spearheaded by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). This legislation would make it a federal crime to provide puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or sex change surgeries to minors, with penalties up to ten years in prison for medical providers and others who facilitate such procedures. It passed 216-211 with overwhelming Republican support.

Unlike vague policy proposals and half-measures, Greene’s bill fully criminalizes pediatric genital mutilation procedures nationwide, ensuring children are protected from irreversible, life-altering surgeries before they reach maturity. According to Greene, her bill “criminalizes ALL pediatric gender affirming care (transgender surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormones)” rather than merely restricting federal funding.

Why Criminal Penalties Are Necessary

Parents and families across Texas and the United States have seen how easy it is for radical ideologies to influence medical decisions. Children are not equipped to make permanent, body-altering choices. Puberty blockers and hormones carry real, irreversible effects, yet under current law, these interventions are often pushed without sufficient safeguards. Greene’s legislation finally puts actual deterrence into federal law, prioritizing children’s future well-being over experimental and ideologically driven medical fads.

The Weak Amendment from Chip Roy

Texas Family Project also disagrees strongly with Chip Roy’s (R-TX) proposed amendment to Greene’s bill. Roy suggested narrowing the scope of the federal criminal penalties. This would have weakened the strong legislation.

Roy’s approach would have diluted the nationwide impact of Greene’s hard-line standard, perhaps leaving loopholes for so-called “trans child sanctuary states.” Rep. Greene warned Roy’s amendment would leave states like California free to continue their radical gender-identity policies, something families cannot accept if we are serious about defending children.

Worse, Roy’s rhetoric gave comfort to establishment lawyers and leadership figures who care more about procedural correctness than about protecting children. Chip Roy is running to be the next Attorney General of Texas, but he has proven to be weak on this issue.

Thankfully, Roy took the amendment down.

Who Will Be The Next Texas Attorney General?

Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) has been on the front lines, battling this issue for several years in Austin. This most recent legislative session, Senator Middleton passed legislation to protect women and children from transgenders invading their private spaces. Pro-family Senator Mayes Middleton is facing off against Chip Roy for the Attorney General’s office in the state of Texas.

Texas has already been at the forefront of defending children from harmful policies pushed by liberal elites. This federal action mirrors Texas’s own resolve to keep minors safe from irreversible medical decisions driven by ideology rather than science and maturity. Rep. Roy’s amendment would have weakened the federal stand and given cover to activists and lawyers ready to exploit loopholes.