Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., has introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to counter the Biden Administration’s Health and Human Services (HHS) ruling that redefines “sex discrimination” in health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. The ruling mandates faith-based organizations to provide transgender surgeries and potentially abortion procedures. Additionally, it requires insurance coverage for gender transition procedures, overriding state laws banning these services. States would also be compelled to fund transgender surgeries with taxpayer dollars.

Congress has a 60-day window to overturn this rule after its finalization before it can take effect nationwide. A resolution of disapproval must pass both the House and Senate within this period; otherwise, the rule stands unless vetoed by the president.

Senator Marshall's CRA is co-sponsored by Senators Blackburn (R-TN), Rubio (R-FL), Braun (R-IN), Lee (R-UT), Cramer (R-ND), and Britt (R-AL). In the House, it is led by Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Chip Roy (R-TX). Various organizations support the CRA, including Heritage Action, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, The Alliance for Defending Freedom, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, Family Research Council, Concerned Women For America, and The Family Policy Alliance.

“Time is of the essence; we will fight like hell to overturn this radical ruling by Joe Biden’s HHS,” Senator Marshall stated. “This is a dangerous abuse of power. Our founding fathers would be rolling over in their graves if they knew that the President of the United States was trying to fund sex-change surgeries at the taxpayer’s expense. Gender is not fluid, and sex is not negotiable... we will continue to sound the alarm."

Senator Blackburn echoed these sentiments: “The Biden administration is weaponizing HHS to attack the religious rights and freedoms of faith-based organizations.”

Congressman LaMalfa added: “This baseless and unscientific re-interpretation of ‘sex’ will no doubt be used by the Biden administration to force people and organizations to pay for products and procedures that violate their beliefs.”

Ryan Walker from Heritage Action commented: “By mandating coverage... medical professionals are robbed of their religious liberties.”

Penny Nance from Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee said: “Doctors take an oath to ‘do no harm,’ but this rule threatens to force them... Congress needs to put a stop to it immediately.”

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission stated: “Section 1557 is intended to ensure patients receive adequate care... we look forward to seeing this statute return to its original purpose.”

The Family Policy Alliance remarked: “We are honored... do no harm—especially for the sake of our nation’s children.”

Greg Baylor from Alliance Defending Freedom concluded: "The Biden administration should never force doctors... against their sound medical judgment or harm patients."