Tammy Baldwin: “I rise today in strong opposition to any attempt by the Federal Government to meddle in decisions about who can and…”

“I rise today in strong opposition to any attempt by the Federal Government to meddle in decisions about who can and cannot participate in school sports. Simply put, it is not the Federal Government's place to tell State and local sports leagues across this country how to do their jobs. This is a decision for local communities, where players and parents can participate in that discussion at the local level. This is a decision for sports leagues to thoughtfully craft policy that actually takes seriously what is best for all players, not blanket mandates that will undoubtedly have unintended consequences for the safety of all students. I, for one, trust our States, our leagues, and our localities to make these decisions without interference from Congress or the President. For years, we have seen them do it thoughtfully and carefully. They have done what is best for the children, in consultation with parents, teachers, coaches, and community members. This is exactly how this type of policy should be created. But Republicans are now saying that they actually know better than these local sports leagues. The President is saying that he knows better than parents what is good for their children. President Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues have inserted themselves into this discussion, tying the hands of leagues that are actually focused on the best interest of our children.…”