In a refreshing bout of common sense, the House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Biden administration’s expansive reinterpretation of Title IX—a move that had stretched the 1972 law beyond recognition. Title IX was originally designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding. However, the Biden administration, in its infinite wisdom, decided that ‘sex’ should encompass gender identity and sexual orientation, effectively rewriting the dictionary to fit a progressive agenda.

The House’s resolution of disapproval passed along party lines, with Republicans leading the charge to rein in this executive overreach. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL), who spearheaded the legislation, aptly noted that the administration’s rule ‘hacks Title IX into pieces and expunges decades of progress for women and girls across the nation.’ It’s heartening to see elected officials standing up for the original intent of laws, rather than allowing them to be contorted to serve the whims of the day.

Critics of the Biden-era changes argue that expanding Title IX to include gender identity and sexual orientation opens the door to a host of unintended consequences. For instance, it could allow biological males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports, undermining the very essence of fair competition. The physical advantages conferred by male biology are well-documented, and pretending otherwise doesn’t change reality.

Moreover, the administration’s reinterpretation could compel schools to allow access to sex-segregated spaces—such as locker rooms and restrooms—based on gender identity rather than biological sex. This raises legitimate concerns about privacy and safety, particularly for young women who expect a certain level of security in these intimate settings.

The House’s action sends a clear message: the executive branch does not have carte blanche to unilaterally redefine the scope of federal laws. Such significant changes should be the purview of Congress, where open debate and the legislative process can reflect the will of the people.

Of course, the resolution now faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Democrats hold sway. Even if it were to pass there, President Biden has vowed to veto any attempt to overturn his administration’s Title IX rule. This sets the stage for a classic showdown between the legislative and executive branches—a constitutional tug-of-war that underscores the importance of checks and balances in our government.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Title IX has been at the center of controversy. The Obama administration issued guidance broadening the law’s scope to include gender identity, only for the Trump administration to rescind those guidelines, restoring a more traditional interpretation. Now, under Biden, we’ve come full circle, with an even more aggressive expansion. This back-and-forth leaves schools and universities in a perpetual state of uncertainty, unsure of which rules to follow and how to remain in compliance.

The politicization of Title IX serves no one, least of all the students it’s meant to protect. Instead of using this vital law as a pawn in the culture wars, we should return to its original purpose: ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance on the basis of sex. That means acknowledging the biological distinctions between males and females—distinctions that have real implications in areas like athletics and privacy.

In the end, the House’s vote is a step toward restoring sanity and clarity to Title IX. It’s a reaffirmation that words have meanings, that laws have intents, and that neither should be twisted to fit the ideological fashions of the moment. One can only hope that the Senate and the President will come to the same realization, though recent history suggests that might be too much to ask.