Two House Democrats joined Republicans in passing a bill that would ban athletes born male from participating in sports teams at girls’ schools.
The Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act, sponsored by Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube, would amend federal law to require student-athletes to participate on the school sports team that matches their sex at birth. It is planned to stipulate that
The bill passed 218-206, with Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) the only Democrats voting in favor. Representative Don Davis (North Carolina) voted “yes.”
All three were re-elected by narrow margins in districts that had been trending red for years.
Senate Republicans have already indicated they aim to take up the bill soon.
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Republicans have called for restrictions on transgender sports participation, particularly on women’s teams. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The change would apply to all K-12 schools that receive federal funding and colleges and universities that receive federal aid.
The remarks came as several Democrats argued that the far left leaves no room for opposition on issues such as transgender youth, and voiced opposition to their party’s emphasis on inclusiveness and progressivism. It happened after.
Notably, however, some Democrats who raised such issues, including Rep. Tom Suozzi (New York) and Rep. Seth Moulton (Massachusetts), voted against the bill. .
Republicans have supported the bill as a way to protect women and girls from unfair athletic standards.
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Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube first introduced the bill in the 118th Congress. (Mandel Gan/AFP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) challenged Democrats on the bill during his weekly news conference Tuesday.
“Today everyone is talking about their children. I have two sons and two daughters, and I can tell the difference. Of course everyone does. And it’s a bit silly to deny that. “There is,” Johnson said. “The American people sent a clear message in November. They want us to return to common sense, and we’re going to see if Democrats heard that message.”
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., said during the bill’s debate, “Why do we even have to discuss this? The idea of having XY-chromosome males competing and displacing women and girls is surprising to me. We should,” he said. In sports, it’s just amazing. ”
“Where in society are we doing this? Where are the feminists? Where are the people who fought so hard to get women’s rights?” LaMalfa asked.
Transgender bill barred from male participation in women’s sports in Republican-led Senate
But a majority of Democrats fiercely opposed the bill, including Rep. Sarah Jacobs, D-Calif., calling it the “Republican Child Predator Rights Enhancement Act.”
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Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., said such cases are rare, but “this bill would allow any parent to raise concerns about a transgender girl playing on a girls’ team.” “This creates an unfair playing field.”
“These decisions should be left to parents, coaches, teachers, and families, not politicians in Washington, D.C.” I rubber stamp bad policy. “Republicans need to stop fighting the culture wars and start working to lower costs, invest in public education, and expand access to affordable health care,” said freshman Virginia Democrat Eugene. Congressman Vindman spoke after the bill passed.
The bill previously passed the House in 2023 on a 219-203 vote, but was not taken up in the Senate, which previously had a Democratic majority.
