Support Catherine Lhamon for Assistant Secretary

We write on behalf of 48 gender justice, anti-violence, and women’s rights organizations unified in strong support of the confirmation of Catherine Lhamon as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education (ED). The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights serves as the agency’s chief legal advisor on civil rights matters and is responsible for leading the work of its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in ensuring equal access to education by enforcing core nondiscrimination laws in schools, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds. Not only was Ms. Lhamon previously unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate for this exact role on August 1, 2013, and has served successfully in this role from her confirmation until January 2017, but she has also dedicated her entire legal career to advocating for the civil rights of all people, including students of color, women and girls, disabled students, and LGBTQ students. It is indisputable that Ms. Lhamon is extremely qualified to lead OCR. Given the educational inequities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and that schools are in the process of re-opening, her leadership is especially critical now as OCR works to ensure all students can learn in safe and welcoming environments.