Erin Houchin: “I am prepared to close and yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, they can say it all they want. It doesn't…”

“I am prepared to close and yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, they can say it all they want. It doesn't make it true. This bill demonizes no one. It doesn't prohibit anyone from participating in sports. We have heard a lot about the trans community today and the high percentage of trans students who committed suicide last year. I want to reiterate: Those that are truly concerned about the mental health status of trans students would have supported H.R. 7966, the STOP II Act in the 117th Congress to provide additional funding for mental health guidance counselors. Again, I have read the text of the bill. There is nothing in it that prohibits trans students from participating in sports. We are simply saying that they must compete against their own biological sex. Like I said at the beginning of my remarks, I never thought I would have to say certain things on the House floor. I never thought we would have to consider bills protecting sports for women and girls or legislation to support law enforcement officers, but if we don't support them, who will? For me, those two things come naturally, and I think--I hope, anyway, we are about to see robust support from both sides of the aisle on these commonsense issues. But even as I speak these words, I am aware that the President of the United States has issued statements of administration policy on these two bills stating his opposition and intent to veto them should they reach his desk.…”