H.R. 5396: Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-09-28 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-09-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2021

Plain summary

Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2021 This bill establishes statutory standards of liability for sexual harassment and a private right of action under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities. Currently, Title IX does not expressly provide for a private right of action for violations, prohibit sexual harassment, or establish standards of liability with respect to such conduct. The Supreme Court has interpreted the statute to cover sexual harassment and has determined that it provides an implied private right of action; the Court has also delineated standards of liability that generally require actual knowledge on the part of educational institutions with respect to such conduct. The bill specifically sets out standards of liability for sexual harassment with respect to covered entities under Title IX. Among other provisions, the bill specifies that a covered entity is liable for sexual harassment committed by an employee against a student that is enabled by the employee's authority and results in a hostile environment, regardless of whether the entity knew or should have known about such conduct. The bill also allows any person aggrieved by the failure of a covered entity to comply with Title IX to bring a civil action for damages.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr5396.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr5396 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117