VIDEO: Ricketts Introduces CRA to Overturn Biden’s Changes to Title IX
June 13, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn Biden’s changes to Title IX.
Ricketts discussed the CRA during a press conference in Washington earlier today. He also highlighted the success of Volleyball Day in Nebraska as proof of the important progress Title IX brought in advancing opportunities for women.Ricketts had previously announced he was working on the CRA in a weekly column when the new rules were finalized earlier this year.
“For 50 years, Title IX has leveled the playing field for women. And now, with this new designation, we’re putting all of that at risk,” Ricketts said. “With these new rules that identify sex equals gender identity, which is not written anywhere in the law, it means that women and girls may have to share dorm rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms with boys and men. It is absolutely wrong.”
“It also opens up the door for boys and men to start competing in girls and women’s sports,” Ricketts continued. “This new rule is anti-common sense and anti-science. It is absolutely undermining what, for more than 50 years, Title IX has done to protect women. And that’s why I’m proud here to stand today, to stand with my Republican colleagues, to introduce this Congressional Review Act, to block the implementation of this rule.”
The resolution, if passed, would overturn the Biden Department of Education final rule titled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.” Among other things, the revised Title IX rule redefines “sex” to include gender identity and rescinds due process protections for students in disciplinary procedures.
TRANSCRIPT
Senator Pete Ricketts: “Thank you, Senator Hyde-Smith, for calling this press conference and for this Congressional Review Act.
“Last year, 92,000 fans crammed into Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium to watch our four volleyball teams compete in what was called Volleyball Day in Nebraska.Omaha World-Herald writer Tom Shatel called it the biggest Title IX statement of all time.
“More and more people are attending women’s sporting events in our country and around the world. And in some cases, the women’s sporting events are getting higher ratings than the men.
“All of that is now being put at risk by the Biden administration’s new ruling on Title IX.
“For 50 years, Title IX has leveled the playing field for women. And now, with this new designation, we’re putting all of that at risk. With these new rules that identify sex equals gender identity, which is not written anywhere in the law, it means that women and girls may have to share dorm rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms with boys and men. It is absolutely wrong.
“It is also a power grab because it is giving now the ability for the Biden administration to investigate any time a transgender student perceives to have unequal treatment because of their gender identity. And that could mean, for example, that a student could be punished simply for not using the transgender students preferred pronoun. That’s wrong.
“It also opens up the door for boys and men to start competing in girls and women’s sports. This new rule is anti-common sense and anti-science. It is absolutely undermining what, for more than 50 years, Title IX has done to protect women. And that’s why I’m proud here to stand today, to stand with my Republican colleagues, to introduce this Congressional Review Act, to block the implementation of this rule.
“We must stand up for our daughters and granddaughters and sisters. We must make sure that we protect the equal treatment our granddaughters and our daughters get. This is absolutely critical, and again, just common sense that men and boys should not be allowed to go into a women’s bathroom. It just seems common sense. And that’s why I’m so glad that Senator Hyde-Smith has worked to bring us together on this important issue.”