WASHINGTON – Ahead of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate recognizing the incredible impact of the law in advancing women’s athletics. Senator Tuberville also reiterated his call for the Biden administration to rethink their proposed rule that, among other things, would require schools to allow biological males to compete in female sports.
Excerpts from the Senator’s speech can be found below, and his remarks can be viewed here.
“As the 50th anniversary of Title IX approaches at the end of this month, we should be celebrating the female athletes who were given the opportunity to win first place, to learn the life lessons sports teaches each individual, and to overcome obstacles and reach their God-given potential.”
“We should be asking ourselves how can we preserve Title IX so female athletes 50 years from now can experience the same euphoric feeling of a hard work and hard-earned victory. But unfortunately, with the Biden administration’s proposal [over] the next few weeks, we will lose Title IX protections for female athletes as we know it.”
“Later this month, it is expected that President Biden’s Department of Education will publish a proposed rule to change Title IX to align more with the administration’s progressive agenda. These proposed changes would require schools to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.”
“I plan to continue leading efforts against this misguided policy to ensure no federal action will negatively impact female athletes. Recently, I have spoken with numerous female athletes who were able to compete – and win – because of Title IX. Additionally, I introduced an amendment to prohibit federal funding to schools that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports. I have also repeatedly called for the Senate to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation I helped introduce that would ensure the definition of ‘sex’ in Title IX is based ‘solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth’ and prohibit federal funding to institutions that do not uphold that definition.”
“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports will set women’s rights back 50 years, to a time before Title IX. It will discourage young girls from entering the court, jumping in the pool, or walking onto the field because they will know they have to compete with the deck stacked against. They can only hope to win second place at best.”
“There is really no pre-game speech or halftime talk you can give to a women or a girl who feels like they aren’t competing on a fair playing field like 50 years ago. The Biden administration should do the right thing and rethink their decision that would destroy female athletics as we know it today.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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