Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, alongside Senator Tommy Tuberville and 28 Republican colleagues, has reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This legislation aims to preserve Title IX protections for female athletes by ensuring that schools allowing males to compete in women's sports or share private spaces with females will lose federal funding.

Senator Blackburn expressed her concerns about the Biden administration's previous attempts to modify Title IX protections, stating, "The attempted Biden-Harris overhaul of Title IX protections was a slap in the face to women and girls across the United States." She emphasized that the new legislation would ensure schools lose public funding if they allow biological men to share private spaces with women.

Senator Tuberville also commented on the issue: "President Trump ran on the issue of saving women’s sports and won in a landslide. 70% of Americans agree—men don’t belong in women’s sports or locker rooms." He reiterated his commitment to protecting women's rights to fair competition.

The background provided outlines significant events leading up to this legislative action. In June 2022, during Title IX's 50th anniversary, a proposed rule by the Biden-Harris Education Department aimed at allowing biological males in women's sports faced opposition but was eventually finalized in April 2024. However, after Vice President Kamala Harris lost an election, President Biden rescinded this rule quietly on December 20, 2024.

Senator Blackburn had previously urged U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to maintain existing Title IX protections and led efforts for recognizing October 10 as "American Girls in Sports Day," though it was blocked by Senate Democrats.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act specifies that gender under Title IX should be recognized based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It prohibits federal funding recipients from supporting athletic programs that allow males to participate in women's sporting events.

The bill is co-sponsored by several senators including Jim Banks, John Barasso, Katie Britt, Ted Budd among others. It is endorsed by organizations such as Independent Women's Voice and Concerned Women for America.