WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, in a procedural vote scheduled to kick off Women’s History Month, the U.S. Senate failed America’s women and girls by blocking the advancement of S.9 (bill number designated in honor of Title IX), the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025. The legislation, introduced by Senator “Coach” Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), would have codified into law President Trump’s executive order prohibiting men from competing in athletic programs designated for women.
Democrats’ war on women continues as all 45 Democrat Senators voted “NAY”. Independent Women will hold the senators who chose to ignore the overwhelming (79%) majority of Americans who support keeping women’s sports female accountable for their failure to protect women and girls through the Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard.
For years, Independent Women has worked alongside Senator “Coach” Tommy Tuberville and Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) to advance this legislation, which passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support in January, as a day-one priority for the 119th Congress. Independent Women is grateful for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Leadership for recognizing the importance of this legislation and giving it the consideration it deserves.
Despite today’s setback, Independent Women will continue to work closely with “Stand With Women” champions in the Senate on the fight to preserve women’s equal athletic opportunities.
Carrie Lukas, president of Independent Women, said, “This fight continues and is far from over. We will not stop until women’s and girls’ right to have equal opportunity, safety and privacy are protected under federal law.”
The Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard, which already has proven impact — delivering a 90% win rate for candidates who stand with women in the 2024 election — will ensure that every American knows exactly which senators voted against fairness in women’s sports today.
Jordanne Kemper, campaign director at Independent Women, said, “45 U.S Senators voted to ignore the equality, safety and opportunities of 170 million American women and girls today. All of their votes are available to the public on the Stand with Women Scorecard. Americans want fairness in women’s sports and Americans will hold these senators accountable. This fight is far from over.”
Adriana McLamb, former D-1 volleyball player, recruiting coordinator to aspiring collegiate female volleyball athletes, and marketing director and spokeswoman for Independent Women, said, “It is disappointing to see Senators ignore their constituents and the female athletes who were counting on them to protect their right to fair and safe play. We will be keeping track of those who negatively impacted today’s vote and ensure they are held accountable. We learned in November that Americans want legislators who stand with women, not the cowards who refuse to keep women’s sports female.”
Beth Parlato, senior legal advisor for Independent Women, said, “This bill was necessary to bolster Title IX’s protection for women and girls. The Senators who lacked the courage to stand with women to protect their private spaces and sports have proclaimed to all women and girls that they don’t matter. When 8 in 10 Americans support keeping males out of female sports, it is only logical that this vote for cloture should have passed with bipartisan support. Independent Women will continue to press on for the rights of all women and girls.”
Julie Gunlock, director of Independent Women’s Network, the national grassroots community activist arm of Independent Women, said, “‘Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right’ is a lyric that comes to mind when I think about the Senate’s failure to protect women. As the song goes, women are stuck in the middle of a debate that should never have happened. We won’t forget this moment!”
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