Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., used a procedural measure Tuesday to allow a direct floor vote on a bill by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., that would preserve Title IX protections for women by prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
Thune implemented Senate Rule XIV, which allows a bill to bypass the process of being referred by a committee and be placed directly on the Senate calendar, The Hill reported. It is unknown when a vote will take place.
Tuberville's bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would counter a directive by the Biden administration's Department of Education to extend Title IX protections to transgender athletes. The department last month withdrew its planned revision, citing pending lawsuits and responses from the public comment period.
"The Department recognizes that there are multiple pending lawsuits related to the application of Title IX in the context of gender identity, including lawsuits related to Title IX's application to athletic eligibility criteria in a variety of factual contexts," the department said. "In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time."
Tuberville's bill ensures Title IX will treat gender as "recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." It also bans recipients of federal funding from operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic programs that permit a male to participate in a women's sporting event.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., on Friday reintroduced a companion bill in the House.
"Americans have loudly spoken that they do not want men stealing sports records from women, entering their daughters' locker rooms, replacing female athletes on teams, and taking their daughters' scholarship opportunities," Steube said in a news release.
"My legislation stands for truth, safety, and reality: Men have no place in women's sports. Republicans have promised to protect women's sports, and under President [-elect Donald] Trump's leadership, we will fulfill this promise."
Steube and Tuberville offered similar legislation in the previous Congress. Steube's bill passed the House by a 219-203 vote, without any Democrat support. Tuberville's bill never reached the Senate floor in the Democrat-controlled upper chamber.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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