The House of Representatives approved legislation on April 20 that would prohibit taxpayer-funded institutions from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s and girls’ sports in schools.
The vote tally fell along party lines, 219–203.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, H.R. 734, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), would amend Title IX to recognize sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Title IX protects against sex discrimination in education.
The bill states, “It shall be a violation for a recipient of federal financial assistance who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”
Steube, on the House floor, said his bill is meant to ensure fairness in women’s sports.
“Congress in 1972 created Title IX to protect women’s sports, to enable women to have an equal playing field in athletics, and in worship to their trans idols, the [Biden] administration wants to flip that on its head. It’s insane,” he said.
“Parents do not want biological men in locker rooms with their daughters, nor do they believe it’s equitable a male can compete with women in female athletics.”
Some Democrats, however, described the measure as an attempt at bullying transgender students.
“This bill is about bullying children,”‘ Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said on the House floor. “Stop bullying children.”
“House Republicans are choosing to bully and belittle trans children,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) said. “This is about attacking a small group of children, and it is shameful.”
The measure comes as the Biden administration has proposed a regulation that would largely prohibit bans on transgender sports participation.
By Jackson Richman and Janice Hisle
