In a closely divided vote, the House of Representatives approved the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which prohibits individuals assigned male at birth from competing on girls' school sports teams. The bill, spearheaded by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), alters existing federal law to mandate that student athlete participation align with their sex assigned at birth.

The legislation passed 218-206, with two Democrats, Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzales of Texas, joining Republicans in support. Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) voted "present." All three represent districts that have become increasingly Republican-leaning. Senate Republicans have indicated their intention to address the bill in the near future.

This legislation reflects a broader Republican effort to regulate transgender participation in sports, particularly on girls' teams. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The law would impact all federally funded schools from kindergarten through college. This action follows criticism from some Democrats who argue that the party's emphasis on inclusivity leaves little room for differing perspectives on transgender issues. However, some Democrats who have expressed such concerns, like Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), voted against the bill.

Rep. Greg Steube introduced the bill in the current Congressional session. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) directly addressed Democrats on the issue, emphasizing the biological differences between sexes and suggesting the vote reflects a broader desire for common sense. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) questioned the need for the debate, expressing surprise that the topic is even being discussed.

While most Democrats strongly opposed the bill, with some like Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) using inflammatory language to describe it, others like Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) argued that such decisions should be left to local communities, not federal legislators. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) echoed this sentiment, criticizing the focus on “culture wars” and urging Republicans to prioritize economic and social issues. The bill previously passed the House in 2023 but was not considered by the then-Democratic-controlled Senate.