•            April 19, 2024

Senator Murray Statement on Biden Admin’s Final Title IX Rule to Protect Students

Senator Murray: “This is a huge step forward for students, survivors, and everyone who understands the paramount importance of making sure schools are free from all forms of sex-based discrimination and harassment.”

Murray led Congressional efforts to fight DeVos Title IX rule as then-HELP Chair and led comment letter to Secretary Cardona on draft Biden Admin Title IX Rule

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s final Title IX rule, which overturns the Trump Administration’s DeVos Title IX rule that weakened protections for survivors of sexual assault. As HELP Chair, Murray weighed in heavily to make her priorities known to the Biden administration as they drafted a new Title IX rule—in 2022, Murray applauded the Biden Administration’s proposed rule and led a comment letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging the Department to further strengthen protections for survivors of sexual assault and trans students, and better protect students’ privacy when it comes to their pregnancy status.

“This is a huge step forward for students, survivors, and everyone who understands the paramount importance of making sure schools are free from all forms of sex-based discrimination and harassment. After Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos took an axe to the Title IX rule and went out of their way to gut enforcement of protections for survivors of sexual assault, the Biden administration’s rule will restore and strengthen essential protections for survivors and make sure schools don’t get away with silencing students and sweeping sexual assault under the rug. At a time when we’re seeing an alarming rise in violence against transgender people, this rule explicitly clarifies that Title IX protects LGBTQ+ students and employees from unfair treatment and discrimination.

“Critically, this rule explains students’ privacy protections under Title IX and their right not to be discriminated against because of pregnancy or a related condition—which is incredibly important at a moment where women in 21 states are living under Republican abortion bans, and Republican lawmakers everywhere are intent on criminalizing and targeting women for their decisions about their reproductive health.

“This rule delivers tremendous progress, but I remain steadfast in urging the Department of Education to continue its work to clarify protections for trans student athletes—trans youth deserve to play sports with their friends just like anyone else.

“The Biden administration’s new rule is a victory for women and girls, the LGBTQ+ community, and students everywhere—college campuses and schools will be more fair, safer, and more transparent thanks to the leadership of the Biden administration.”

As HELP Chair, Murray led the fight against then-Secretary Betsy DeVos’s efforts to undermine Title IX and weaken protections for survivors of sexual harassment and assault. In 2017, when Secretary DeVos first indicated that she intended to change the Title IX guidance, Senator Murray led Democrats in pressing for the Department of Education to fulfill its obligation to keep students safe and urged Secretary DeVos to listen to survivors. When Secretary DeVos officially proposed her rule in November 2018, Senator Murray immediately called for her to rescind the proposal. In January 2019, Senator Murray urged the Department to extend the comment period so students could make their voices heard and led 35 Democratic senators in sending an official comment letter opposing the rule. Murray continued to speak out repeatedly against Secretary DeVos’ efforts to undermine Title IX protections and slammed the final Trump Administration rule issued by DeVos in May 2020. Murray applauded Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s announcement in April 2021 that the Biden Administration Education Department would review the DeVos rule.

###