U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Saturday morning offered an amendment on the Senate floor that would have prohibited educational institutions from receiving federal funding if they allow biological males to compete in female athletics competitions.
Tuberville’s amendment came amid a long line of amendments from both sides of the aisles to the $1.9 trillion so-called American Rescue Plan backed by President Joe Biden and Democratic congressional leadership.
Alabama’s junior senator, as he has expressed previously in reaction to executive action by Biden, said in floor remarks that his amendment would safeguard Title IX protections for young women.
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“I started my career coaching high school football, girls and boys basketball 45 years ago, just a few years after Title IX was enacted,” Tuberville outlined on Saturday. “It ensured young women had the same opportunities as young men, and the same access to funding, facilities and athletic scholarships. Title IX has given young women the long denied platform that had always been afforded to men. And today, America’s female athletes are routinely the best performing on the world stage.”
He explained that his amendment “recognizes Title IX’s role in protecting women in education and in sports.”
“Under this amendment, educational institutions would be prohibited from receiving funding if biological males are allowed to compete in women’s athletics. This amendment safeguards fairness and equality for women,” Tuberville said. “This amendment will ensure that education funding in the bill is properly directed to schools that are focused on COVID response and recovery rather than pushing a liberal agenda.”
Though the amendment had broad support and even garnered the vote of Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), the rest of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined to block it from being considered. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) supported Tuberville’s amendment.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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