Republican senators have filed an amendment to ensure the Protect College Sports Act cannot override state laws that bar biological males from women's sports. The move comes as the bill faces steep odds ahead of the August congressional recess.
Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, warned that the act could undermine 27 state laws keeping men out of women's sports, despite the bill's stated intent.
The Protect College Sports Act has encountered late setbacks that cast doubt on its passage before lawmakers leave Washington for the summer break. The amendment is meant to guarantee that the federal legislation does not preempt existing state restrictions.
The bill's supporters say it is designed to protect women's athletics, but critics argue it could inadvertently invalidate state-level protections at a time when transgender participation in women's sports remains a contentious issue.
The amendment's backers are pushing to preserve state authority over the matter, a move that could complicate the bill's path forward in a divided Congress.