North Birmingham Times

WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, April 20, 2023, the House of Representatives will consider passage of H.R. 437, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023. This legislation strengthens Title IX protections by prohibiting recipients of federal funds from allowing a biological male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls, as a violation of Title IX sex-discrimination. Chairman Robert B. Aderholt and Members of the House Values Action Team expressed their support for the legislation:

“Under these proposed rules, a mediocre male athlete can simply identify as a female and begin to dominate women’s sports. We are seeing female athletes unjustly lose their places on the podium – and the opportunity to earn scholarships. The question that stands above any other is:  How is this fair to biological girls? Congress must act to support female athletes by protecting fair play and safe competition. Allowing men to compete in female sports is a disgrace to the lawful purpose of Title IX, and I am looking forward to voting YES on the Protect Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04).

Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx said: “The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act restores the integrity and fairness of women’s sports. Men should not compete in women’s sports and take away athletic opportunities from females. 50 years ago, Title IX became a beacon of hope for women’s equality, and for the Biden administration to use this landmark bill to push its woke agenda is unfair, morally wrong, and diminishes the accomplishments of millions of women in America,” said Foxx (NC-05).

“It is the peak of hypocrisy that leftists, who claim to be ‘feminists,’ are now pushing women out of their own sports,” said Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04). “I am proud to co-sponsor the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 in defense of the rights of women and girls to compete fairly in sports. As the father of two daughters, I strongly support this commonsense legislation which will ensure all our daughters are competing against biological females on and off the field.”

“It is both evidence-based and obvious to anyone with common sense, that there are clear physiological differences between the performance of biological men and women in sports. Only woke politics, which is running rampant in the Biden Administration, would allow students to compete based on their stated gender identity rather than their biological sex. As the father of daughter who is a six time All-American, she told me straight to my face, if boys are allowed to compete in women’s sports, I’m not an All-American—anywhere. Women and girls’ sports must be protected from woke identity politics and I will proudly vote yes on the Protection of Women and Girls Act which will make it a violation for a recipient of federal funds to permit a person whose sex is male, to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls,” said Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01).

“I’m proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation to ensure an equal playing field for women and girls in sports. The radical left has launched an unprecedented attack on women. The Biden Administration is trying to erode longstanding Title IX protections for women and girls, forcing them to compete against men. I will continue to stand on the side of women and girls’ safety and protect their hard-earned athletic success,” said VAT Co-Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08).

“As a grandmother, I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. “No woman should be denied an opportunity, scholarship, or a place on a podium because a biological male is competing against them. The Radical Left is waging a war on women, and we must protect them from gender extremists who seek to destroy all the progress we have made,” said Harshbarger (TN-01).

Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) said: “As a former college athlete myself, I can’t imagine how it feels for female athletes to compromise the fairness of the sport they love by being forced to compete against biological men – it’s unfair. Women in sports fought for too long to be respected in athletics – and now the radical left’s agenda is putting Title IX and the integrity of women’s athletics in jeopardy. This should not be a partisan issue; it’s why we have women’s sports – basic genetics tells us that some biological males will naturally have a physical advantage over some females. This bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, will ensure a level playing field for female athletes. House Republicans promised to protect the integrity and fairness of women’s sports from the woke left, and that’s exactly what this bill does.”

“As a proud cosponsor of this bill, I am glad to see it come to the House floor for a vote. Athletic competition should be based on a level-playing field for all athletes. It is clear to me that allowing biological males to compete in women's sports does not meet these criteria,” said Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02).

“Women’s sports are meant for biological women and biological women alone. For generations, female athletes such as Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams, Katie Ledecky, and Mia Hamm have fought tirelessly to tear down societal barriers in sports. As members of Congress, we must do everything in our power to protect the progress we have made. I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this crucial piece of legislation,” said Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04).

"Allowing biological males who identify as women to compete against biological women is patently unfair and jeopardizes women’s safety and fairness in competition. By prohibiting Title IX federal funds from being used in sports that allow biological males to compete against biological females, this legislation will protect rights of female athletes in competition by ensuring a fair playing field,” said Congressman Daniel Webster (FL-11).

“Female athletes are under attack by the Left’s agenda to allow biological males to compete in women’s divisions. These efforts place hardworking female athletes at a disadvantage, possibly denying them scholarships, awards, and other athletic opportunities. I’m proud to stand up for women and girls in sports across the country,” said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05).

“Physiological distinctions between the sexes matter in protecting equal opportunity. Title IX must protect women and girl athletes on the basis of biological sex, not gender self-identification. That is why I am proud to cosponsor HR 426, and am looking forward to voting in support of women this week in supporting HR 426,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05).

“Last year, I was proud to file a discharge petition with Rep. Steube to bring this bill to the floor. House Democrats tried everything to stop it. Now, Republicans are making good on our pledge to protect women and girls in sports by passing this bill the same week of the 100-day mark of our majority” said Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03).

“Under the false guise of inclusivity, the left continues to push its liberal agenda at the expense of women and girls who have fought hard to secure Title IX protections in athletics.  We cannot allow the progress made to protect women and girls’ sports to be eroded by those who would like male athletes to be allowed to compete against female athletes.   The biological differences between males and females are irrefutable and offer a competitive advantage to those males allowed to participate in women’s and girls’ competitions.  Commonsense and fundamental fairness must prevail,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12).

“Biological men have no business competing in women’s sports. Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote Democrats’ radical gender ideology. That’s why I am proud to co-sponsor The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R.734) to protect women’s sports, which are unfortunately under attack,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen (OK-02).

“Biological males do not belong in women’s sports leagues or their locker rooms,” said Congressman Barry Moore. “I am proud to support this legislation that rejects progressive, woke policies which punish hardworking female athletes and put their safety at risk,” said Moore (AL-02).

“Those claiming to advocate for women's equality are actively trying to tilt the playing field against young women and girls in school sports. This is in clear contradiction to Title IX. It's time that we step in to advocate for equality. We should withdraw federal funding for schools that seek to prevent these young women and girls from fair and equal competition in sports,” said VAT Co-Chairman, Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-5).

"Women deserve equal treatment and protections on and off the field. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 is a crucial step towards ensuring a level playing field for women and girls in sports. As America passed Title IX 50 years ago to give women equal access to education and athletic opportunities, allowing biological males to compete against women and girls in sports is a step backwards. This legislation protects the progress we have made by ensuring the integrity of female athletics," said Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26).

“It’s dangerous and unfair to force female athletes to compete against transgender biological males in women’s sports. Not only does this turn truth on its head, but doing so grants biological men access to college scholarship opportunities specifically created for women and allows them to compete in women’s sports despite the fact they are genetically stronger and faster. I’m proud to support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to defend access to a fair playing field for female athletes,” said Congressman David Rouzer (NC-7).

“Sports are based on the idea of fair competition. Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports destroys a level playing field and denies women an equal opportunity to compete. Title IX was written to protect women; using it as a weapon to destroy women’s sports and women’s only spaces is fundamentally wrong,” said Congressman Mark Green, M.D. (TN-07).

“God created male and female, and biological science is clear about the fact that men don’t belong in women’s sports. The left wants to rob talented women and girls of opportunities to succeed and achieve their dreams in the swimming pool, on the court, and on the field. I am proud to vote YES to protect women and girls in sports.” said Congressman Bob Good (VA-05).

“Forcing female athletes to compete against biological men is unjust and, frankly, an affront to science,” said Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36).“We must act to ensure fairness in women’s sports.”

Original source can be found here.