Saving the Children

What to know: A bill to protect children from experimental “gender modification” treatments, including cross-sex hormones and surgeries, has passed in the Texas House.

The TPPF take: Texas is right to protect children from experimental treatments.

“There remains no clear and conclusive evidence that blocking puberty, administering cross-sex hormones, or, least of all, performing surgical and chemical castration help children overcome gender dysphoria,” says TPPF’s Andrew Brown. “There is, however, emerging research that shows significant and potentially irreparable damage to children that are given these treatments. Further, psychological counseling and other therapies have proven effective at helping children and families deal with these difficult challenges.”

For more on protecting children in Texas, click here.


DEI

What to know: A new report shows that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rules are in place throughout Texas universities.

The TPPF take: Texas lawmakers must work to restore nondiscrimination and equality to Texas college campuses.

“DEI divides people rather than unites them,” says TPPF’s Carol Swain. “It is rooted in a Marxist worldview in which conflict is touted as a means to bring about a utopian world. We know it has never worked in any society. And in the 2020s it is destroying higher education in America and the ideological diversity necessary for young people to develop critical thinking skills that come from grappling with ideas, even ones not found in the liberal playbook.”

For more on DEI, click here.


Debt Ceiling

What to know: There’s been little progress in the debt ceiling negotiations in Congress.

The TPPF take: President Biden is threatening to invoke the 14th Amendment to raise the debt ceiling—unilaterally.

“The threat is premature, because the House has acted, meaning that with the Senate’s action and the President’s signature, the threat of default will pass,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “The threat is misdirected because the President retains several options that could avoid default, for instance, temporarily scaling back federal payments to match income.”

For more on the debt ceiling, click here.