How Did They Vote?

The new session of Congress is off and running, and we are thrilled to report that yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, by a vote of 218-206 (with 2 not voting). This legislation, if passed into law, would protect women’s sports by affirming that allowing males to compete on women’s teams violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded schools and colleges.

It was encouraging to hear U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cheer the passage of this legislation:

…it goes back to the first book in Genesis, male and female. He made them. This is pretty clear. I’m not sure there’s another interpretation, but everybody’s open to interpreting Scripture however they will. But this comports with common sense as well, so we know it from our religious tradition, which I believe is the truth. I’m a Bible believing Christian. I make no apology about that, but whether you regard that as the truth or not, it’s also nature.

It’s biology. And biology is not bigotry, as we say. Anyone who would accuse the supporters of this legislation otherwise is ill-informed. This is to protect women and girls. It’s very clear, it’s been articulated well, and you’ve heard examples… Congress has a role to play here. We should step into this arena. And it’s an appropriate thing for us to do, so we make no apology for it. And this is not out of dislike or discrimination against anybody at all. This is the right thing to do, and it’s to protect women and girls, and that’s our role here.

It is interesting to note that zero Republicans voted against H.R. 28, and only two Democrats – both from Texas – voted in favor of the bill: U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez.

For the Illinois Congressional Delegation, it was a strictly partisan roll call, as all fourteen Democrats voted against protecting women sports in favor of transgender, biological male infiltration.  The roll call vote results are as follows:

U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) and Mary Miller (R-Mahomet) were co-sponsors of this important legislation. The bill was introduced by U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-FL) who issued the following statement:

The House has delivered on its promise to protect women’s sports. Americans are united in our belief that men have no place in women’s sports, whether it’s breaking records, entering locker rooms, or stealing scholarship opportunities. Denying biological truth erases fairness in sports and puts women’s safety and opportunities at risk. Today’s passage sends a clear message to the Senate—protecting women and girls in sports is not negotiable.

Speaker Johnson held a news conference following the passage of H.R. 28. He was joined by pro-woman activist and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who winsomely points out:

I’m thrilled with the passage of H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, but truthfully, I’m mad. I’m mad that this is something we have to do. I’m mad that we as women have to beg for equal rights. I’m mad that we have to beg for privacy in areas of undressing, and I’m mad that we have to beg for safety on the court, or on the field, or walking in the streets at night, for that matter.

…

The American people spoke on November 5th, the common sense, everyday Americans who intuitively know that men and women are different, … While I certainly believe people turned out to the polls to embrace Donald Trump, to embrace his cabinet picks, to embrace the America first agenda. More so truthfully, I believe that people turned out to the polls on November 5th to reject absurdity.

…

Men do not belong in women’s sports. And with the House passage of the protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, we are one step closer as a nation to making sure that not one more male athlete is able to take a trophy, a roster spot, playing time, resources or an opportunity to compete from a woman. The American people, again, we believe that women’s sports are for women. I cannot believe we have to say this, but unfortunately we do. It matters.

Watch the full press conference, which runs just over 17 minutes:

Illinois’ own Mary Miller spoke briefly as well, saying

It sickens me knowing that confused and predatory men can take away years of hard work from our girls and enter their sports and their locker rooms. 

Regarding the bill becoming law, Rep. Miller confidently asserts that “President Trump is ready to sign it into law on day one.”

This bill is up next in the U.S. Senate, where U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is the chief sponsor (S. 9).  As of this writing, we are pleased to report that this bill has 35 co-sponsors, including U.S. Senators from nearby states: Jim Banks (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Rand Paul (R-KY).

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send a message to U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to urge them to support this common sense legislation. Urge them to protect the integrity of women’s sports and ensure a level playing field for biological females. When men invade women’s private spaces and are allowed to compete in women’s sports, they not only violate their dignity, but they rob them of their privacy, safety, and opportunity.

 This legislation is expected to be taken up in the U.S. Senate on Friday where it is expected to pass.

Illinois Family Institute has endorsed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, along with other great groups, including the Independent Women’s Voice, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Heritage Action for America, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, Parents Defending Education, Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC),  Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), and CPAC.