U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville joined The Megyn Kelly Show on Monday morning to discuss the continued push to pass his hallmark legislation, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. The lawmaker in particular stressed the need for Senate leadership to step up and bring the legislation to the floor for a full vote.
If passed, the bill would preserve and ensure Title IX protections for female athletes across the nation.
Tuberville first spoke with Kelly about President Donald Trump’s recently issued executive order codifying the legal definitions of gender.
“President Trump signed an executive order almost a couple of weeks ago defining gender, by the way, and he even came out and said, ‘Listen, we have to have a bill within thirty days,’ because if you don’t know this, executive orders only last as long as that president’s there.”
He noted a striking statistic showing that voters from both parties largely agreed on the need to keep men out of women’s sports.
“So, we have some work to do,” said Tuberville. “This is the third time—third time’s the charm. 79% of the people in this country—Republican and Democrat—say it is wrong for men or boys to participate in women’s sports.”
According to Tuberville, now is the time to strike on the issue with Democrats no longer in control of the Senate and Trump in the White House.
“We’ve got the majority on our side. As you said—we’ve got to get it to the floor. John Thune told me he’s going to get it to the floor. He hasn’t done it. Now, it’s time to put up or shut up.”
“Time and time again, 4 or 5 times if we have to, even before the next election—get them on record on the vote that they’re going to vote against girls and women by having them participate against men and boys,” he said. “It’s devastating to sports. It’s devastating to the lives of young people.”
Tuberville emphasized that if the law isn’t passed soon there could be major implications.
“There have been rapes in dressing rooms and showers. It’s going to become a common thing if you don’t stop this now. You let this landslide keep going—we’re going to have huge problems getting it stopped. So, it’s important that we stop it now, President Trump’s hot on the trail on this with his Executive Order.”
“50 years ago was the first time we ever said, ‘Okay, let’s give women an opportunity.’ It’s the best thing that ever passed out of this place we call ‘the Swamp’ here in Washington, D.C. But again, we’re going to keep fighting for it…I’m going to continue to push leadership—John Thune, John Barrasso—they’re on my side on this.”
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
