On a vote of 218 to 206, the US House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that protects women’s and girls’ athletic teams and competitions from being invaded by male athletes who mistakenly believe that they are females.
Congressman Nick Begich III voted in favor of the bill.
Last year, when the bill was attempted, Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, voted against it, along with all other Democrats.
“For generations, women have fought tirelessly for equal access in athletics and this important piece of legislation reaffirms our commitment to that fight,” said Congressman Begich. “This bill is essential to protecting female athletes and ensuring that sports programs remain fair and competitive for all.”
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act says that if schools allow males who identify as females to compete on female-only teams, they’ll lose their federal funding.
This is 180 degrees from where the Biden Administration has been. Biden’s Education Department last year passed a new interpretation of the 1972 Title IX law and said if boys can’t play on girls’ teams and use girls’ bathrooms, the schools will lose their federal funding.
This week, another federal judge threw out the Biden Title IX interpretation in a ruling that applies to all states. In December, the Biden Administration, seeing the writing on the wall, quietly withdrew its own rule just before Christmas.
Congressman Begich said the legislation is not about exclusion, rather the bill is focused on upholding the principle of fairness.
“All athletes deserve equal opportunities to succeed. But we cannot allow the rights of female athletes to be impeded in the name of political correctness,” he said. “This bill is a necessary step to ensure that women and girls can continue to compete on equal terms and that their hard-won progress in sports is protected for future generations.”
Florida Rep. Greg Steube, the bill’s sponsor, said it’s progress that at least two Democrats voted in favor of his bill, while last time he tried to get the legislation through, not a single Democrat supported it. His past bill died in the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats; the Republicans are now in charge of the Senate.
A local parallel exists in the Alaska Legislature: After boys and men started taking over girls and women in athletic competitions, Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River tried to get similar legislation through the Alaska Legislature in 2023, but although it passed the House, it was stopped in the Democrat-controlled Senate — just as the US House bill last year was stopped by Democrats in the US Senate.
“Nationally 70% of Americans agree with females in sports having a level playing field and not having to compete against males who have physical advantages due to their male hormones. The US House just passed the bill. It’s time for the Alaska legislature to support our female athletes, too,” Allard said.
A national exit poll conducted in November by the Concerned Women for America’s legislative action committee revealed that 70% of moderate voters aligned with President Donald Trump’s opposition to boys and men using female bathrooms and competing against females in competitions that are separated by sex.
The two Democrats in the US House who voted for the bill are both from Texas, where steers may be castrated, but that still doesn’t make them cows.
What a waste of time and money
Thank god we booted out Mary!
Getting headlines on cultural wars appparently is more important than working on a balanced budget
Unlikely.
Is this a sign that some common sense will be making a comeback?
“Steers may be castrated but that doesn’t make them cows.” Suzanne, you are a gift!
HOLD THE LINE