Carbondale Reporter

U.S. Representative Mike Bost expressed his support for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, stating, "Women have fought too hard for too long for their place to compete in sports, and we owe it to them to protect that progress," in a Facebook post dated January 14.

"Proud to cast my vote today in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act," said Bost, according to Facebook. "Women have fought too hard for too long for their place to compete in sports, and we owe it to them to protect that progress."

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act was introduced on January 3. It seeks to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 by defining sex in athletics based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth for compliance with Title IX. The bill, officially designated as House Resolution 28 of the 119th Congress, has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Jan. 14 Facebook post | U.S. Rep Mike Bost's Facebook page

Bost further said in his Facebook post, "It is wrong to force women and girls to compete against biological males in school sports. Plain and simple. The American people are fed up with the out-of-touch Far Left gender identity agenda. I have seven granddaughters, and I want to do everything I can to value them, empower them, and encourage them to achieve their dreams on a fair playing field."

According to CNN, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act with a vote of 218-206 on January 14. One Democrat representative voted "present," while two Democrat representatives supported the bill. In the previous session of Congress, Republicans passed the bill with a vote of 219-203; however, it was not taken up by the Senate. Introduced by Representative Greg Steube from Florida, the bill prohibits transgender women and girls from competing on male sports teams. CNN reported that educational institutions receiving federal funds would violate Title IX if they allow individuals assigned male at birth to participate in sports designated for women or girls.

Mike Bost has served as the representative for Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. He previously spent two decades in the Illinois State House of Representatives where he held the position of House Republican Caucus Chair. A lifelong resident of Murphysboro and former U.S. Marine Corps member from 1979-1982, Bost worked at Bost Trucking Service as a driver and truck manager for 24 years before joining the Murphysboro Fire Department after graduating from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.