Congressman Collins: More Obama Administration Overreach on School Bathroom Policy

Washington, D.C. – Today, the White House issued guidance to public schools in all 50 states saying that schools must allow students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their preferred gender identity. The Obama administration has threatened to pull federal funding from schools that do not comply with the administration’s guidance, which is based on a misinterpretation of “sex” as defined in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and certain provisions of the Civil Rights Act. Congressman Collins issued the following statement on the White House guidance:

“Time and time again, the Obama Administration has willfully misinterpreted the law and ignored Congressional intent in order to implement its leftist political agenda. Today’s announcement is more bullying from the Obama Administration over decisions that should be made at the local level. Schools, parents, and state and local governments should decide the most appropriate way to handle these situations with their students. Local schools should not have to choose between Title IX funding that they critically need and the legitimate concerns of teachers, students, and parents. Girls should use girls’ bathrooms, and boys should use boy’s bathrooms – it’s as simple as that. President Obama has once again shown his complete disregard for the separation of powers by wading into this issue, willfully ignoring the intent of Congress, and forcing his political ideology onto communities by threatening to cut off federal funds.”