Senate Democrats voted down an amendment by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) that would have barred schools receiving federal funds from allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female athletic programs, the fourth time Tuberville has brought the policy to the Senate floor.

The amendment failed 49-41 on March 20 during Senate debate on the SAVE America Act, a Republican voting bill that tightens voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Tuberville filed the amendment at the request of President Trump, mirroring language from his Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

On Saturday, Tuberville took to the floor of the U.S. Senate, challenging Democrats to justify casting such an anti-women, anti-competitive vote.

“Senate Democrats just voted AGAIN to block my bill to protect women and girls sports,” Tuberville said.

“This is an 80-20 issue but, as usual, woke Democrats are siding with the 20%. I encouraged every one of them to look into the camera and explain to their sisters, daughters, and granddaughters why they are okay with their rights being stolen by a man dressed up as a girl.”

Tuberville first introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in 2023 and reintroduced it as S.9 in 2025.

The bill seeks to define sex under Title IX as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” for purposes of athletic competition.

The standalone bill has been referred to committee but has not advanced, leading Tuberville to repeatedly force votes on the policy through amendments to other legislation.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].