Dear John,

We are in a vital moment for our ongoing fight for gender equity in education. Early next week the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, H.J. Res. 165, aimed at overturning the U.S. Department of Education’s recently released Title IX rule and preventing future efforts to reinstate any of the rule’s protections. Soon after the House introduced its resolution, the Senate introduced an identical resolution, S.J. 96, which could be voted on soon.

If the recently released Title IX rule is overturned, it would reinstate Betsy DeVos’ harmful Title IX rule, meaning that schools would still be able to ignore many reports of sexual harassment and force student survivors into unfairly burdensome and hostile investigations that students complaining of other types of misconduct don’t have to experience. It would also mean less clarity about schools’ obligations to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ students and pregnant and parenting students—including ensuring that transgender students can use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity and that pregnant and parenting students are entitled to lactation accommodations and other support.

Title IX has been the cornerstone of the fight against sex discrimination in schools for over 50 years. The recent updates to the Title IX rule would ensure that all students—especially student survivors, LGBTQI+ students, and pregnant and parenting students—have equal access to education free from sex discrimination. It restores protections to student survivors of sexual violence that former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos gutted in 2020. However, the House and Senate CRA resolutions seek to undo these vital protections, leaving vulnerable students at risk. Take action now!

In solidarity,

Shiwali Patel
she/her/hers
Senior Director of Safe & Inclusive Schools
National Women's Law Center