House Republican leaders express their intentions for the upcoming term under Donald Trump, with one of their primary goals being the ban on men participating in women’s sports. Florida Congressman Greg Steube states that he has 56 GOP co-sponsors for his bill titled “The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”
“This legislation ensures that women and girls have a fair playing field in competitive sports by requiring school athletics to adhere to Title IX, recognizing a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” said Rep. Steube.
According to GovTrack.us, which tracks bills sponsored by members of Congress, Steube’s bill has been fast-tracked. Reports indicate that it may proceed directly to the House floor without allowing for hearings or amendments, thereby limiting debate and waiving standard chamber rules.
Rep. Steube previously introduced this bill, which passed in the U.S. House by a vote of 219-203, with no Democrats supporting it. However, the legislation was stalled by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat. Now, with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate, the bill has a better chance of passing.
The NCAA has faced criticism from GOP and other conservative lawmakers for not opposing transgender athletes competing in college sports. However, the NCAA has stated that if Congress were to enact federal legislation, they would cooperate to develop a federal eligibility standard.
If Congress does not act on Steube’s bill, more states are likely to address the issue independently. Since 2020, 25 states have enacted laws banning transgender children and teens from competing on school sports teams, specifically prohibiting males from participating in female sports.
