GOP House's Banks backs bill to bar biological men in women's sports at schools taking federal funds

Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, says his panel will support a recently proposed bill that if passed will prevent schools that accept federal funds from allowing biological males to compete in women's sports events.

Banks say the bill, introduced by Florida GOP Rep. Greg Steube, comes at an "especially important moment" because it attempts to protect girls and women's sports ahead of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law against discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

"The left is trying to effectively repeal Title IX by denying the biological differences between men and women," Banks said in a statement Monday. "Every Democrat in Congress should have to go on the record about whether they support equal opportunity for women and girls."

He also thanked Steube for what he called his efforts to "preserve an equal playing field for female athletes."

If signed into law, which is unlikely due to control of the House, Senate and White House by the Democratic Party, the bill would make it a violation of federal law for schools that receive federal funds to allow biological males to compete against women and girls in sporting event. The bill specifies that the sex of an individual will be based solely on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

"We have seen this practice prevent talented athletes from achieving their goals; stripping them of records, rosters, and scholarships. My bill ensures school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth," Steube said.

"Instead of constantly paying lip service to women, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi should have put her money where her mouth is and allowed for the House to vote on this legislation."

However, since Pelosi has so far refused to scheduled a vote, Steube says, he is calling upon colleagues to signing onto his  discharge petition, a parliamentary procedure that effectively allows a measure to get a final vote by sidestepping the vote in the committee in which it was introduce and controlled by the opposition party.

Republican have become increasingly active in their efforts to oppose biological males competing in women's sports, arguing that males have an unfair advantage and have thus sidelined female athletes for success in sports through college. 

A growing number of Red state governors have signed into law bills that ban biological males from competing against girls and women at the high school and collegiate levels.

The subject will likely continue to permeate the national conversation in the lead up to the 2022 General Elections in November.