WASHINGTON – Today, Heritage Action, a conservative organization with two million grassroots activists, key voted the co-sponsorship of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (S. 251/H.R. 426), introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), to prevent men from joining women’s sports under Title IX.
Heritage Action Executive Director Jessica Anderson released the following statement:
Title IX was put in place to protect the safety and opportunity of women and girls on and off the field. Biden’s proposed changes to these protections would jeopardize scholarship opportunities, erase record-setting possibilities, and ultimately destroy women’s sports entirely.
This is about more than sports – this is a women’s civil rights issue. The legislation led by Senator Lee and Representative Steube would keep Title IX protections intact and block the Biden administration from ignoring the realities of natural biology. Every member of Congress concerned about equality and safety for our daughters should co-sponsor this legislation.
Background:
- The legislation would defend the aspirations and safety of female athletes by making it a federal crime under Title IX for anyone who receives federal funds and operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs to allow biological males to compete in athletic programs designated for women or girls.
- Members' cosponsorship of this legislation will improve their scores on Heritage Action's Scorecard.
- On Tuesday, Rep. Steube joined Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) in filing a discharge petition to force consideration of the bill on the House floor. The bill will be considered if 218 members co-sponsor the petition.
- A new Biden Title IX rule is expected to be released in coming weeks. The rule will likely not only have implications for women’s sports, but may also seek to redefine gender in education. Heritage Action has released a tool kit for citizens to submit public comments and advocate against the impending rule.
- On the state level, Heritage Action has been actively engaged with activists and lawmakers to pass similar legislation in individual legislatures.