Congressman Langworthy Votes to Protect Women and Girls’ Sports

WASHINGTON, DC –April 20th…Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) voted in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls Sports Act (H.R. 734) that amends Title IX to protect women and girls from discrimination in athletics by allowing biological males to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designed for biological females. 

“Women have fought tirelessly to achieve fairness in athletics and this commonsense legislation ensures that their fight can continue progressing forward,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “This bill is about recognizing science and the biological differences that will protect women and girls’ safety and the integrity of competitive athletics. The passage of this bill is an important victory for women’s rights.” 

Since Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) was enacted 50 years ago, female participation in sports has increased 1,057 percent at the high school level and 614 percent at the postsecondary level. Title IX revolutionized women's sports, but the Biden Administration’s regulation, that when finalized, would eliminate states’ ability to comprehensively protect women and girls from discrimination in athletics. The regulation will eliminate policies enacted by 20 states to protect equal athletic opportunities for women and girls and generate mass confusion about the circumstances under which states, schools, and institutions can protect the integrity of women's athletic competitions.

Specifically, the bill clarifies that a recipient of federal education funding violates Title IX's prohibition against sex discrimination if the recipient operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities and allows a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls. The legislation states that “sex” in the athletic context must be recognized based only on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth and clarifies that the bill's provisions do not prohibit schools or institutions from permitting males to practice against women's sports teams, protecting the long- standing routine of some women's athletic programs of practicing or scrimmaging against males. 

Congressman Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District of New York which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties and parts of Erie County. Visit langworthy.house.gov.