House Republicans this week renewed their push to ban male-born transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
Congressman Jim Banks of Indiana on Tuesday submitted a petition to the House Education and Labor Committee to vote in favor of exonerating the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act.
The bill was introduced by Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube in January 2021, but it has not progressed.
He announced the legislation amid fury over University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas being allowed to compete in female events and win the women’s NCAA Division I title.
Now 62 Republicans have signed the petition to vote ahead of the November midterms.
Rep. Banks still needs 218 colleagues, including Democrats, to enlist in what would be the strongest move yet to implement a federal ban.
Fifteen states have already passed laws banning male athletes who identify as women from participating in girls’ or women’s sports.
Republicans say the legislation will ensure that “women and girls have a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring school sports meet Title IX recognition of a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Indiana Congressman Jim Banks (left) submitted a petition seeking relief on the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act for a vote in the House Education and Labor Committee on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube in January 2021, but it has not progressed.
RSC Chairman Banks said: “Congress passed Title IX 50 years ago, but the left now plots to effectively destroy this vital protection of civil liberties.
“House Republicans must respond by strengthening protections for female athletes and forcing Democrats to publicly state whether they support women’s right to compete on a level playing field.
“I would like to thank Greg Steube, as well as Heritage Action, my RSC colleagues and the many groups supporting his important bill.”
Rep. Steube said: “Allowing biologically male men to compete in women’s sports is anti-scientific and an affront to female athletes across the country.
“We have seen this practice prevent talented athletes from achieving their goals; depriving them of records, rosters and scholarships.
“By refusing to allow a vote on protecting women’s sports, Speaker Pelosi is allowing Congress to evade this critical and timely issue facing students across the country.
‘The Law on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports on the floor of the house. Rather than paying lip service to women, I hope that my colleagues on the other side will actually do something for women and girls by signing this petition.
“As the left continues a craze to eliminate gender, the American people deserve to know where their elected officials stand to protect women’s sports.”
The Family Policy Alliance said: “The future of America’s women and girls is at stake. If members of Congress genuinely support fair opportunities for women, they will have no hesitation in signing HR 426’s dismissal petition.
“As the Biden administration aggressively seeks to marginalize our girls, America is hitting back. 15 states have passed Save Girls Sports legislation, and this relief motion is a major step toward future national victory.
“We applaud Chairman Banks and the Republican Study Committee for initiating a full-court press to ensure fair play for women and girls across the country.”
Steube announced the legislation amid fury over University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas being allowed to compete in female events and win the women’s NCAA Division I title
NCAA leadership decided in January to change its policies regarding trans athletes so that the governing bodies of each sport can decide whether an athlete is eligible to compete.
Under the new guidance, USA Swimming has allowed Thomas to compete as a woman after completing a year of hormone treatment.
Shortly thereafter, USA Swimming announced a new requirement that transgender women must suppress their testosterone levels for three years before competing – a rule that would have resulted in Thomas being banned from future female competitions.
In March, a Sports Illustrated feature of Thomas revealed that “about half the team is opposed to her competing against other women.”
In the article, published March 3, sources close to Penn’s team said that out of a total of 37 members on the roster, only six to eight are “relentless supporters” of the standout senior.
Meanwhile, author Robert Sanchez wrote, “about half the team is opposed to her competing against other women.”
The remaining members “stayed out of the debate,” Sanchez noted.
One of the opponents, an unnamed student who spoke to Fox, said that while many support Thomas and her journey as a swimmer and as a person, she cannot condone a decision that would disadvantage her and other women.
“I think if Lia were to break an Olympian’s record it would do a lot of harm to the sport and to women and I think it would result in more people coming out [against the guidelines]”People who were afraid to speak before,” the student said.
“I think there’s a way you can still be your authentic self and swim the way you are without competing against women,” the student told Fox News.
NCAA leadership decided in January to change its policies regarding trans athletes so that the governing bodies of each sport can decide whether an athlete is eligible to compete. Under the new guidance, USA Swimming has allowed Thomas to compete as a woman after completing a year of hormone treatment