Sen. Ted Cruz seeks to protect the free speech rights of federal workers and contractors from the Biden administration’s DEI cramdown.
The Texas Republican recently introduced a bill that would allow those employees and those who do business with the federal government to sue if they’re forced to use preferred pronouns.
Cruz’s “Safeguarding Free Speech Act,” which has a House version filed by Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles, would prohibit federal agencies from mandating staff or contractors from using personal pronouns that contradict with an individual’s biological sex, or calling a person’s name other than his or her legal name when referring to that person.
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If the government forces such behavior, federal workers or contractors could sue for up to $100,000.
“Forcing anyone to use pronouns that don’t accord with a person’s biological sex is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment,” Cruz said in a statement. “As the Supreme Court held, ‘If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.’”
“The government has no business compelling anyone to use pronouns that contradict biological reality,” he added.
In his own statement, Ogles added, “Can you imagine getting reprimanded or fired from your job for not using an individual’s ‘preferred pronouns’? Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Biden regime has imposed in its latest guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services.”
“The radical Left is actively coercing the speech of individuals – all in service of a delusional woke agenda. The American people shouldn’t be asked by their government to subsidize violations of the Constitution of the United States,” he added.
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The bill was filed in response to a directive from the Department of Health and Human Services.
On Oct. 11, HHS released its “Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants,” according to Cruz’s press release.
Under the policy, employees and contractors with HHS are required to call other employees by their “preferred pronouns,” even if those pronouns do not align with biological reality.
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