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January 14, 2020 | Press Releases

Steube Introduces Bill to Protect Women and Girls in Competitive Sports

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to ensure that women and girls are allowed a fair playing field in competitive sports by prohibiting the use of Title IX funds to support women’s sports in which biological male athletes are allowed to participate against biological female athletes.

“With the House passage of H.R. 5 earlier this Congress, women and girls participating in competitive sports across the country are at risk of losing the equal playing field they were guaranteed by the Education Amendments of 1972,” said Congressman Steube following the introduction of the bill. “We must protect our female athletes from being forced to compete against biological male athletes in competitive sports.”

“We have heard the heartbreaking stories of young women and girls from across the country who compete in sports but are losing games and even scholarships to biological males who choose to identify as women and girls,” said Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), an original cosponsor of the bill. “These sports should be reserved for the women and girls who work hard and train for them, not men. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help protect the future of women and girls’ sports.”

“Common sense dictates that biological boys and men should not be allowed to compete against girls and women in competitive sports. Allowing this would severely undermine the integrity of women’s sports and, in some cases, put the safety of female athletes at risk,” said Congressman Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.), an original cosponsor of the bill. “I thank Congressman Steube for his leadership and am proud to stand with him and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko in introducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”

This bill ensures that biological females compete against other biological females in women’s competitive sports that are funded through Title IX.

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