WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released a statement on the H.R. 28 vote.

“Title IX, enacted in 1972 to ensure there was fairness in sports from kindergarten through college, must be strengthened and not weaponized. Changes to Title IX should not be taken lightly. In H.R. 28 Republicans have neglected to address many issues that could be harmful to our children and female athletes. It inflicts blanket bans without the ability of states, local governments, schools, and parents to make reasonable exceptions. 

“H.R. 28 treats elite college athletes the same as elementary school children, banning transgender kids as young as kindergarten from playing on school sports teams with their friends. It also fails to consider different sports and the level of competition. The bill could deprive exceptional female athletes from participating on male sports teams, such as a female kicker playing on a football team. 

“Finally, H.R. 28 does not detail how schools are expected to prove a student’s “reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” putting students at risk for invasive and traumatizing exams, or worse sexual abuse. Moving forward, I hope that we can come together as a nation and focus on uplifting women and girls in sports instead of enacting policies that can be damaging to their well-being and athletic success.”

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