Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, both Republicans from Alabama, have reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, also known as S.9. This legislation seeks to preserve Title IX protections specifically for female athletes.

The initiative follows the Biden Administration's decision in December 2024 to withdraw a Department of Education rule that would have required schools to allow males to compete in women's sports or face losing funding. Additionally, a Kentucky federal judge recently struck down the Biden Administration’s broader Title IX rule, which faced legal challenges from more than a dozen states, including Alabama.

Senator Britt emphasized the importance of this legislation for future generations: "For daughters like mine and generations to come, we’ve got to protect women and girls in sports," she stated. She expressed appreciation for Senator Tuberville's leadership on this issue, adding that it is about ensuring fair competition for girls and women.

The proposed act stipulates that gender should be recognized based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth under Title IX provisions. It further aims to prevent recipients of federal funding from facilitating athletic programs that allow males to participate in women's sporting events.

Senator Britt noted the bill's passage in the U.S. House with a vote of 218-206.

Senator Tuberville commented on the public support for protecting women's sports: "President Trump ran on the issue of saving women’s sports and won in a landslide," he said. He highlighted that 70% of Americans agree with this stance. Tuberville reiterated his commitment to safeguarding these rights: "I am welcoming my first granddaughter this spring and won’t stop fighting until her rights to fairly compete are protected."

The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations, including Independent Women’s Voice, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Action for America, and Family Policy Alliance.

In addition to this effort, Senator Britt joined Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee in introducing a resolution named 'American Girls in Sports Day' to underscore the significance of Title IX protections for biological women participating in sports.