WASHINGTON — The U.S. House has passed a bill that would prohibit federal funding from flowing to schools unless they ban transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports.

Two Democrats, Texas Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, voted with Republicans in favor of the legislation.

“As a grandfather to six wonderful, capable granddaughters, this is important to me,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who backed the bill. “This bill would safeguard and uphold the integrity and safety of women’s sports and the true intention of Title IX by allowing all women the opportunity to achieve excellence in sports.”

Democrats said the bill unfairly targeted transgender women and girls, infringing on their rights through fearmongering and bullying. After the vote, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., said she opposed the legislation because it requires the federal government to interfere with decisions families have made about their children.

“I’m really concerned about what this opens up for our young people,” McBath said. “I’m concerned about who’s going to be doing all of the checking and who’s going to be doing all of the observing. And I just think these are really going to be problematic questions for families, and we need to just protect our children as much as we can.”

A similar bill is pending in the Senate, but no vote has been scheduled.

Discussions on transgender girls competing in sports is happening not just in Congress but at the local level in states across the country.

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