Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a statement regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX rule set to take effect on August 1. The policy redefines "sex" to include gender identity, which Cassidy argues eliminates legal protections for women and girls in American education.

Louisiana and 25 other states have initiated legal challenges against the administration's Title IX policies. Federal courts have subsequently blocked enforcement of the new regulation in 21 states, including Louisiana.

"The new Biden-Harris rule injects progressive gender ideology into Title IX, weakening longstanding protections for women and girls. This is the death of Title IX," said Dr. Cassidy. "Thankfully, Louisiana and other states have taken action to block President Biden and Vice President Harris’ assault on Title IX in their schools. This policy needs to be ended nationwide to ensure women and girls have every opportunity to succeed on the field and in the classroom."

In June, Cassidy along with 34 Republican colleagues introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval aimed at overturning this regulation and preserving Title IX protections for women and girls.

Cassidy has also launched an investigation to understand better the impact of allowing biological men to compete against female athletes. He previously released a preliminary report detailing testimony from female athletes who experienced anguish and mental stress from competing against biological male athletes with inherent physical advantages.

The new Biden-Harris administration rule extends Title IX protections to gender identity and sexual orientation, requiring institutions to allow biological males into female spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms or any activity currently segregated by sex.

The final rule also addresses issues related to free speech on campus, protects teachers' unions, and affects due process protections for students accused of sexual harassment. Noncompliance with Title IX regulations could jeopardize all federal funding an institution receives.