Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval aimed at overturning a Biden administration rule concerning Title IX. The new rule from the Department of Education, titled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,” redefines “sex” to include gender identity and rescinds certain due process protections for students in disciplinary procedures.

Hyde-Smith stated, "President Biden’s Title IX regulation stretches the law way beyond reason, ignores basic biological facts, and infringes on the rights of parents and teachers. It is a backward rule that only hurts women and girls by stripping away opportunities and rights they have enjoyed for decades." She emphasized the need to save Title IX by stopping what she described as a radical rule.

The measure is co-sponsored by Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (La.), who criticized the new rule as an overhaul injecting progressive gender ideology into Title IX. “Title IX has been about making sure women have a fair shake relative to men. The new Biden rule radically overhauls Title IX, injecting a progressive gender ideology that removes longstanding protections for women and girls," Cassidy said. "This is the death of Title IX as we know it."

Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Roger Marshall (R-Neb.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marco Rubio(R-Fla.). Pete Ricketts(R-Neb). Lindsey Graham(R-S.C.). Ted Cruz(R-Texas). Eric Schmitt(R-Mo.). James Lankford(R-Okla.) and J.D.Vance(Ohio).

The Independent Women’s Forum supports this congressional effort to preserve traditional interpretations of Title IX. Carrie Lukas, President of IWF, commented: "Thank you, Senator Hyde-Smith, for standing up for fairness and for common sense. Congress wrote and passed Title IX more than 50 years ago to ensure that women have equal opportunity in education, including athletics."

Opposition to the final regulation focuses on its extension of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity protections under Title IX. Critics argue this change will allow biological males identifying as females to compete in women’s sports. They also contend that it threatens free speech on campuses while protecting teacher unions at the expense of student due process protections against sexual harassment accusations.

The CRA allows Congress to use expedited procedures to consider this resolution which can be passed by a simple majority vote.