Mobile Courant

On August 6, 2024, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with 21 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker. The letter urges the NCAA to update its student-athlete policy to ensure only female students can participate in women’s sports.

This request follows the recent implementation of the Biden-Harris Title IX rule on August 1 in 24 states. An injunction is in place in 26 states, including Alabama, preventing the rule from taking effect while it is being challenged in court.

"Amid the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented assault on Title IX, we write to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to update your student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women’s sports," wrote the Senators. They highlighted that several organizations and more than 20 states have taken actions to protect women's sports and urged the NCAA to follow suit.

Joining Senators Tuberville and Blackburn are Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

The letter has been endorsed by Riley Gaines, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Action, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Independent Women’s Forum, the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, the Independent Women’s Law Center, Champion Women, and the Our Bodies Our Sports Coalition.

Senator Tuberville's background includes over 40 years as an educator, mentor, and coach. He began his career coaching high school girls’ basketball shortly after Title IX was enacted and has been a vocal advocate for preserving its protections.

In June 2022, on Title IX's 50th anniversary, the Education Department issued a proposed rule allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. Despite nearly 240,000 comments opposing this rule, it was finalized in April 2024. Senator Tuberville has expressed strong opposition to this development.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and serves on several committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

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