House Members Fighting for Women’s Rights Through Legislation: Rep. Kat Cammack

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) speaks in front of U.S. Capitol to defend women's rights during Republican press conference, June 23, 2022 (courtesy of House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy Twitter)

The Title IX legal provision was originally designed to minimize discrimination based on sex. But today, some say it could be used to do just the opposite, as the Biden administration introduces amendments to the law that would put biological male (transgender) athletes in the same category as women. Among those pushing back against the proposed changes is Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) who wants to, in part, see the definition of a woman codified into law to protect women’s rights.

“I think when you talk about what Congress can do legislatively, it's ensuring that these definitions aren't changed to accommodate the whims of a political agenda,” Cammack told NTD Evening News. She added that Republicans want to ensure Title IX really protects women’s sports for biological women.

Meanwhile, in a June 23 press statement, the White House said there is more work to be done to improve Title IX so transgender women have equal rights.

“My Administration will continue to fight tirelessly to realize the promise of Title IX—that every person deserves an opportunity to pursue their education free from discrimination and realize their full potential,” Biden said in the press statement. “I am committed to protecting this progress and working to achieve full equality, inclusion, and dignity for women and girls, LGBTQI+ Americans, all students, and all Americans.”

More specifically, the U.S. Department of Education put out a statement clarifying what the amends to Title IX would achieve.

"They would make clear that preventing someone from participating in school programs and activities consistent with their gender identity would cause harm in violation of Title IX, except in some limited areas set out in the statute or regulations," the department said (pdf).

In response, Republicans, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) have both introduced bills to fight the changes the Biden administration wants, in order to protect women’s rights.

Steube introduced H.R. 426, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, to fight to keep Title IX protections in women's sports. “The legislation allows women and girls a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) speaks to the media with members of the Republican Study Committee about Iran in Washington, on April 21, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

In addition, Lesko recently introduced the Women’s Bill of Rights.

“The bill acknowledges the biological differences in men and women, highlights the importance of differentiating between men and women in law for the purposes of protecting sex-segregated activities and organizations, and affirms the importance of using “mother” and “father” in a written law to protect families and bolster parents,” Lesko said in a press statement.

Although Title IX was created to protect women’s rights, Cammack said it would do just the opposite if the Democrats’ amendments are approved.

“It would just further rob biological women and girls of the titles and podiums and awards that they have worked their entire lives to achieve,” said Cammack. “I think it's a slap in the face what the administration has done, really trying to cater to the woke mob, by including gender identity.”

"Republicans want to follow the science, which tells us that biological males have a physical advantage over biological females," said Cammack.

“And if we're going to be talking about fairness, then start with the science, the science is telling us that these biological males have a distinct advantage in speed and strength, and physical structure that allows them to excel beyond what women can.”

“[It’s] a slap in the face to all these women who have trained, who have prepared, who have completed their entire life. They have sacrificed so much just to really come to the top of their sport, and again, this is just eroding women's rights,” said Cammack.

The Florida congresswoman said she is open to creating a third-gender sports category so transgenders can compete against each other.

“And I think that there is some sort of middle ground that we can come to when it comes to males who want to compete under a different gender, but they won't be competing against women and biological women,” said Cammack.

Cammack said Republicans are proud of the legislation they have introduced, “but we now have the tough task ahead of us of actually passing this legislation and getting it to the Senate.”