Protecting Women and Girls' Sports

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a former female athlete, mother of two daughters who are athletes, lifelong runner, and former coach of girls' sports teams. This week we will vote on a bill to protect women and girls' sports. I led a similar bill in the Virginia Senate and look forward to supporting this measure in the U.S. House.

I feel passionately about this issue and want to convey how important it is to protect women's sports for future generations.

This bill is not about discriminating against any group of people, but rather protecting the benefits of allowing biological girls to push themselves and bond over a shared physical goal. Allowing women to excel in a physical activity promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-confidence. Women's sports offer opportunities for young girls to discover their strengths and teach them that hard work pays off.

Title IX protected these opportunities and allowed young women in this country to compete and win in fair fields of play. Biological men and women are physically different and should be respected for those differences.

Failing to acknowledge these differences takes away opportunities for girls and women to succeed on the playing field. We cannot allow this to happen.

I am proud to support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, and I strongly urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source