Congressman Cloud Leads Letter to Secretary Cardona On Proposed Rule Regarding Title IX

Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Michael Cloud led a congressional letter to Department of Education Secretary Cardona, expressing concerns about the Department of Education’s proposed rule regarding Title IX. The letter will also be submitted as a Public Comment in the formal rulemaking process.

Rep. Cloud and other lawmakers stated in the letter, “In the wake of the Department’s attempt to redefine sex absent congressional authority, this new rule would further subvert federal and state law by conditioning federal funding on policies that harm female athletes and violate the purpose and intent of Title IX, which has been increasingly applied in subsequent years to protect and encourage female participation in sports.” 

“Dramatic increases in female participation in sports are intrinsically tied to the integrity of the opportunities to participate. However, the Department’s proposed rule would compromise that integrity by allowing biological males who self-identify as women to participate in female sports.” 

“This rule is a dangerous overstep by this administration that places “gender ideology” over women’s opportunities,” Congressman Cloud said. “Under no circumstance should our daughters and granddaughters be deprived of opportunities because of this administration’s radical, woke agenda. Title IX was meant to protect women and girls, but Biden’s Department of Education is now weaponizing the federal rulemaking process to destroy their athletic and academic protections and opportunities.”

The Biden Administration has made their position clear—schools and states must comply with a new set of radical standards that allows biological males to play in women’s sports if they are to receive Title IX funding. The Title IX athletics rule recently proposed by the administration will continue on this path of discriminating against women and girls in sports. Congress has recently spoken up and passed legislation that recognizes that women’s sports is for biological women only. Family Policy Alliance is thankful that Rep. Michael Cloud and other members of Congress are now responding to this proposed rule by telling the administration to stop endangering the safety and opportunities for women and rescind this rule. – Ruth Ward, Director of Government Affairs, Family Policy Alliance

“Women fought for years for the opportunities Title IX gives to women and girls in education and athletics, yet here we are again having to fight for the same rights,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization. “Biology matters and it is clear males have distinct biological advantages in sports, like their larger hearts, lung capacity, and higher hemoglobin levels that enable the body to oxygenate muscles faster, to name a few. The Biden Administration’s direct attack on women is shameful. We are grateful to Representative Cloud, who is leading opposition to this discriminatory and disgraceful proposed rule, and to every member who joined him.”

This letter was co-signed by Representatives Miller (R-IL), Duncan (R-SC), Bost (R-IL), Santos (R-NY), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Lamborn (R-CO), Norman (R-SC), Good (R-VA), Guest (R-MS), Green (R-TN), Burgess (R-TX), Weber (R-TX), Bishop (R-NC), Donalds (R-FL), Mace (R-SC), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Sessions (R-TX), Arrington (R-TX), Ogles (R-TN), Steube (R-FL), Clyde (R-GA), Harris (R-MD), Grothman (R-WI), Lesko (R-AZ), Moran (R-TX), Jackson (R-TX), Mills (R-FL), Brecheen (R-OK), Crane (R-AZ), Cline (R-VA), Luna (R-FL), Hern (R-OK), Greene (R-GA), Crenshaw (R-TX), Banks (R-IN), Higgins (R-LA), Johnson (R-LA), and Burlison (R-MO).

Click HERE for a copy of the letter.

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