ICYMI: Sen. Banks Introduces Amendment Protecting Female Athletes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) offered an amendment to the Protect College Sports Act alongside Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) that would prevent the legislation from preempting state laws protecting women's sports.

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): "Indiana has one of the strongest laws in the country that keeps biological men from competing in women's sports. As a father of three daughters, I can't support and legislation that would preempt Indiana's law. This amendment would make sure the Protect College Sports Act protects female athletes.

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Amendment Summary:

• Protects state and local laws, regulations, rules, requirements, and standards that prohibit biological men from participating in women's intercollegiate sports from being preempted by federal law.

Background:

• Indiana has enacted protections for female athletes at every level of education. In 2022, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to prohibit biological males from competing in girls' K-12 sports. In 2025, Governor Mike Braun signed a second law extending those protections to women's collegiate athletics.

Here's what they're saying:

Terry Schilling:"The NCAA has shown us time after time: without clear laws, it will always side with radical transgender ideology over female athletes. The PCSA, while well-intentioned, must protect all female athletes. A simple amendment, like the one just introduced by Sens. @HawleyMO, @Jim_Banks and @SenTuberville, will do just that."

Kristen Waggoner: "URGENT: The current version of the Protect College Sports Act could jeopardize women's sports. Every Senator who cares about women's equal opportunity should act immediately to clarify that this bill does not preempt state laws protecting girls' sports."

Riley Gaines: "The Protect College Sport Act protects the NCAA. The NCAA does NOT protect female athletes. Unless its amended, I do not support the Protect College Sports Act. There is no room for ambiguity."

Alliance Defending Freedom: "Momentum is growing to FIX the Protect College Sports Act and minimize its risk of being misused to challenge women's sports laws. We're grateful to our allies who publicly support a simple fix. We don't have to choose between protecting college sports and keeping women's sports for women. We can do both. Fix the PCSA."

Kevin Roberts: "This is 100% correct: we've made way too much progress protecting female athletes from transgender ideology to backtrack now."

Sage Steele:"For those who understand the importance of protecting women's sports, please listen. And those politicians who SAY they want to protect women & girls, the vote you cast tomorrow will solidify that. PLEASE do the right thing!"

Kim Shasby Jones: "The PCSA must be rock solid for female athletes if we are really serious about granting legal immunity power to the NCAA. Until women are protected, NO DEAL."

Jennifer Sey: "It sounds great to 'protect college sports'. And it is. But the bill can't leave women out. And right now , the bill leaves an opening for the NCAA to run roughshod over female athletes. Fix it make sure women's sports are protected too."

Tina Descovitch: "We have to get this right!"

Concerned Women for America: "The Protect College Sports Act could undermine the ability of states to pass laws banning men from female athletics. Protecting female sports should not be negotiable. Congress should not attempt to fix the broader issues within college sports at the expense of female athletes."

Fox News Digital: Republican senators file amendment to stop college sports bill from overriding state women's sports laws

Outkick: The "Protect College Sports Act" has a fatal flaw: it doesn't protect women - Riley Gaines

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