Senator Murray on Biden Administration’s New Proposed Title IX Rule: Strong Progress in the Fight to End Campus Sexual Assault Crisis

Senator Murray:  “After so many years of survivors being silenced and campus sexual assault being brushed under the rug, this new proposed Title IX rule is long overdue progress in the fight to end the epidemic of campus sexual assault.”

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the Title IX rule announced by the Biden Administration that will ensure survivors can seek justice, ensure schools are held accountable for addressing assault, extend discrimination protection to trans students, clarify protections for pregnant and parenting students, and help make our campuses safer for all students.

“After so many years of survivors being silenced and campus sexual assault being brushed under the rug, this new proposed Title IX rule is long overdue progress in the fight to end the epidemic of campus sexual assault. This rule represents a world of change from the backwards DeVos rule, which made it easier for schools to sweep harassment and assault under the rug, and harder for survivors to come forward, seek justice, and feel safe on campus. Thanks to the Biden Administration, we are finally bringing an end to that rule—and I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Title IX’s 50th anniversary.”

“The Biden Administration’s proposed rule will ensure survivors can seek justice, that schools are held accountable for addressing assault, extend discrimination protection to trans students, and help make our campuses safer for all students. And I was pleased to see the proposed rule clarify protections for pregnant and parenting students as well. But as much progress as we are making here, it’s clear there is still more to be done. I’m going to be pushing for us to build on this progress with additional steps to protect gay and trans students whose rights are under attack, and who face some of the highest rates of assault and harassment.”

###