Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 28.

As a mother to a former child athlete, I get the need to keep our daughters safe and ensure our school sports are fair. Sadly, there is nothing in this bill to improve the safety of our daughters or improve fair play. In fact, the bill subjects girls, cisgender and transgender girls, to harm and ridicule, and it strips fairness from players, parents, and school communities.

The bill sets up an unfair playing field where any parent can raise a concern that a transgender girl might be playing on a girls' team, and we know this is so very rare.

It is unfair to the girls who may be targeted because they grow faster, play harder, or simply may be more talented than their teammates.

This bill is unfair to the school districts that can't navigate the threats of lawsuits but also can't afford to lose Federal funding, leaving students without sports or school meals.

This bill is unfair to the girl athletes who could be subject to genital inspection and subject to humiliation, leaving them with a legacy of trauma rather than the lessons of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Finally, this bill is unfair to the American people, who are demanding that we take their call to address the cost of living seriously.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to leave these decisions in the hands of parents and local sports authorities and vote ``no'' on H.R. 28.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source