Last progress January 15, 2025 (1 year ago)
Introduced on January 15, 2025 by W. Greg Steube
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Directs U.S. collegiate and other sports governing bodies to protect women’s sports by asking the NCAA and member conferences to adopt policies that limit women’s teams to biological females and to remove or replace existing transgender‑eligibility rules. The resolution expresses concern that biological males competing on women’s teams can create competitive and safety disadvantages for female athletes and calls on all U.S. sports organizations to preserve the category of women’s sports for biological women and girls. The measure is a nonbinding House resolution that asks sports organizations to change their own rules; it does not create or change federal law or fund programs.
Athletic participation has a positive impact on young girls, improving physical, emotional, and psychological health, self-confidence, and discipline.
Women have achieved some of the greatest athletic feats in U.S. sports history, from the Olympics to professional and collegiate competition.
The enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) was a pivotal moment in Federal support of women in sports and applied to virtually all postsecondary institutions that receive Federal financial assistance.
There are stated fundamental and enduring biological differences between males and females that put females at a competitive disadvantage in sports and can jeopardize their safety during competition against males.
In 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adopted a policy that enables biological males to participate on women’s rosters and compete in the women’s sports category, and that policy continues today.
Direct effects: Transgender collegiate athletes (particularly trans women/trans feminine people who were assigned male at birth) would be the most directly affected if sports bodies follow the resolution’s request; they could be barred from competing on women’s teams and would need to seek other competitive opportunities or challenge the rules legally. Cisgender female athletes could see changes framed as protecting competitive fairness and safety; potential effects include roster composition, scholarship allocation, and event results.
Institutions of higher education and intercollegiate athletic associations would need to review and possibly change their eligibility, roster, and compliance policies if they choose to act. That could require new administrative rules, updates to handbooks, guidance for coaches and compliance officers, and possible litigation costs if policies are contested. Sports governing bodies at other levels (conference, NAIA, NCAA) may feel political and public pressure to adopt similar policies.
Broader impacts: The resolution contributes to an ongoing national debate about transgender inclusion in sports and intersects with civil rights discussions, Title IX interpretations, and state laws that may already address transgender participation. Because the measure is nonbinding, it does not by itself change federal obligations or funding, but it can influence organizational policy, public opinion, and potential legal challenges. Athletic recruiting, scholarship distribution, and competition structure could change in places where organizations adopt sex‑based rules. There may be increased litigation risk and public controversy for any bodies that change policies in line with this request.
Updated 4 days ago
Last progress January 13, 2025 (1 year ago)
