(CNSNews.com) - "Our focus at the Department is to provide equal access to students, including students who are LGBTQ, access free from discrimination," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, at a hearing on his department's Fiscal Year 2024 budget request.
That's as close as Cardona came to defining the word "woman," as he was asked to do several times. In response to that repeated question, Cardona talked about "equal access" to public education, and he said defining what a woman is, is "almost secondary to the important role that I have as Secretary of Education."
Nor would Cardona say if he believes that biological males, who identify as females, should be allowed to compete in women's sports:
"I think it's not answered with a yes or no," Cardona told Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.). "I think all students should have access to--" he started to say.
Clyde interrupted: "I think that's a yes or no question. Do you believe that a biological male who self-identifies as a woman should be allowed to compete in women's sports?" he asked again.
"I believe all students should have access to all things that public--" Cardona began to say.
"You're not going to answer my question," Clyde said. So the congressman asked it again: "Do you believe allowing biological males to compete in women's sports benefits female athletes?"
"I believe it's important that we take into account the needs of all students when they're engaging in extra-curricular--" Cardona started to say.
"Again, you're not going to answer my question. Do you believe allowing biological males to enter women's private spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms is safe for female students?" Clyde asked.
"It's critically important that we make sure all students feel safe in their school environment. All students, and that's the responsibility of our schools," Cardona said.
"So what does that mean?" Clyde asked him. "Does that mean then that biological males should not be allowed in women's personal spaces? Is that what you're saying?"
"It means that the perspective of all students should be taken into account when decisions are made around facilities," Cardona said.
Clyde asked Cardona, "What is your message to athletes like Riley Gaines, who have legitimate concerns about how your department's proposed Title IX rule change will destroy girls and women's sports?"
On April 6, the Education Department proposed a new rule on athletic eligibility, supposedly providing "clarity" on when and how transgender students can participate in school sports, since some states have passed laws barring biological males from playing on girls' teams.
According to the Education Department, "The proposed rule would establish that policies violate Title IX when they categorically ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are.
"The proposed rule also recognizes that in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students' participation.
The proposed rule is intended to help schools develop eligibility criteria that protects students from being denied equal athletic opportunity, while giving schools the flexibility to develop their own participation policies.
Cardona noted that the rule, which would apply to public K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities, is now subject to public comment. "But it is our focus at the Department of Education to provide equal access, free from discrimination in things that are available to students in our public schools," he said.
Clyde said he believes the Biden administration is "attempting to weaponize Title IX, morphing it from a law that protects women to a law that disadvantages or endangers women. Further, the department is doing so with taxpayer dollars, an action that spotlights where you and your president's true priorities lie, in my opinion."
Clyde asked Cardona, "How much money has been spent or will be spent crafting and implementing this proposed rule?"
Cardona replied, "I can have my team get back to you on costs."
'Different perspectives'
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) also raised the transgender/Title IX issue with Cardona:
He said as a father, "I'm very concerned about the proposed Title IX regulations that I believe will do grave harm to the safety and success of young women athletes and girls across the country.
"Under these proposed rules, a mediocre male athlete can simply identify as a female and going to dominate women's sports...Do you think this is fair to biological girls?" Aderholt asked Cardona.
"Our focus at the Department of Education is to provide equal access free from discrimination to students," Cardona replied.
"As we know, Title IX has helped over the last 50 years provide opportunities for girls, and we're proud of the work that we're doing to make sure that, for example, the training facilities for girls has the same attention and funding as it does for boys.
"So we are proud of the Title IX proposal and the current proposal that you're speaking about is -- is just that, it's a proposal and we have a window open for comments that we're going to take very seriously. The last comment period in Title IX, we received over 240,000 comments and we want to make sure that we're listening to the American people in this process as well."
Cardona said the Education Department welcomes "different perspectives."
"I think that's what helps us get to where we need to go and I want to assure you, Chairman, that we welcome feedback that differs in opinion. It's not just the opinion that we share. We welcome feedback from all."
Cardona said he's had conversations, not just with transgender students, but "with families and parents and students from all different walks who shared their perspective. And we remain committed to listening to different perspectives and engaging folks from whatever perspective they have."