Legal Momentum and NOW File Complaints against Bush Administration Sex Discrimination in Job Training Programs

Legal Momentum and the National Organization for Women (NOW) today filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) alleging sex discrimination in 34 of the first 100 programs funded by the Bush Administration under its new "Responsible Fatherhood" initiative. According to the program summaries on the HHS web site, the 34 programs are providing job training services to men but not to women.

The complaints, filed with HHS's Office for Civil Rights, charge that the 34 programs violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the federal statute that prohibits sex discrimination in any education program that receives federal funds. The complaints also charge HHS itself with violating the Constitution and Title IX by funding programs that HHS knew planned to discriminate against women.

"The Bush Administration has awarded over $80 million to 'men only' job training programs, in violation of our nation's laws against sex discrimination," said Legal Momentum President Kathy Rodgers. "Our organizations strongly support appropriate job training programs but only those that are non-discriminatory and serve both men and women. Both in the White and in the African American communities, women earn much less than men, are much more often poor, and are much more likely to be custodial single parents. Excluding women from these training programs does families a tremendous disservice."

The 34 programs are active in twenty-two states and provide a range of education services in addition to job training. While some will serve only fathers, some will also serve men who are not fathers. Together, the programs were awarded five-year grants totaling $83.4 million in October 2006.

In the News:
Legal Momentum and NOW File Complaints against Bush Administration Sex Discrimination in Job Training Programs,
Washington Post, March 29, 2007


Complaints:

PROGRAM ABSTRACT:
Summaries Of The 34 HHS Funded Fatherhood Programs Named In The Legal Momentum & NOW Sex Discrimination Complaints

PRESS RELEASE:
Leading Women's Rights Groups File Complaints against Bush Administration Sex Discrimination in Job Training Programs