Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) spoke on the House Floor in support of Rep. Greg Steube’s H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which maintains House Republicans’ commitment to defending safety and fairness in women’s athletics.
Chairman Walberg’s remarks as delivered:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, authored by Representative Greg Steube.
“This bill is about a promise.
“More than 50 years ago this country made a promise to women and girls across America.
“That promise, Title IX, said women and girls would have equal opportunities, both in the classroom and in athletics.
“For years America has kept her promise.
“Prior to Title IX only 300,000 women and girls participated in high school and college sports. By the 40th anniversary of Title IX’s passage, that number was up to 3 million, and the numbers have continued to climb and grow in the years since.
“Today, female participation in sports has increased over 1,000 percent at the high school level and over 600 percent at the college level since Title IX went into effect.
“Unfortunately, these wins for women and girls, ushered in by the promise of Title IX, have been under attack.
“The Biden-Harris administration pushed a radical rewrite of Title IX that would eliminate policies enacted by 26 states to protect equal athletic opportunities for women and girls.
“Even with last week’s court order striking down the regulation and the Trump administration poised to undo the harm caused by it, nearly half of states have no protections in place for female athletes.
“Mr. Speaker, kicking girls off sports teams to make way for a biological male takes opportunities away from these girls. This means fewer college scholarships and fewer opportunities for girls. It also makes them second-class citizens in their own sports and puts their safety at risk.
“The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act offers a new promise to America’s women and girls. It will strengthen Title IX’s protections for women, ensure a level playing field for female athletes, and protect the law from current and future radical regulatory schemes.”
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