Administration's Directive to Public Schools on Bathrooms, Transgender Students

Below is a statement from Senator Chuck Grassley regarding the Obama Administration’s recently released directive to public schools regarding the use of bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students.  The matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
 
“The guidance is overreach by the federal government.  It’s a matter that ought to be left to states and local school boards.  The Supreme Court has never addressed the application of the statutes at issue to transgender students.  The Supreme Court cases cited in the guidance do not support the conclusions of law that the Obama Administration is telling local schools they must comply with.  In addition, school districts are being told that the law requires them to adhere to the guidance.   Unspoken, but well aware of by administrators, is that failure to comply with what the Administration claims is the law, whether or not the guidance is accurate, jeopardizes school district receipt of federal education funds necessary for the education of all children.  Finally, the guidance fails to take into account parental concerns regarding the safety of children who by law are present in schools and are in the schools’ care.”  

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