Senator Shelley Moore Capito spoke in support of the Tuberville-Blackburn amendment to the SAVE America Act, which ensures fairness in women’s sports by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics.
Support legislation or amendments to ensure fairness in women's sports by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics.
Occurrences
Senator Shelley Moore Capito spoke this morning on Capitol Hill about her support on the amendment. The amendment, sponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, would prohibit all biological males from participating in women’s sports at both the high school and collegiate levels. Democrats are opposed to the idea, while Capito says the amendment is about protecting female student athletes. “We’ve seen across the nation where this has been an issue,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, “Where the unfairness of biological males competing against women has set up unfair situations, made our women uncomfortable in the locker room, on the playing fields, and at their colleges and universities and high schools.”
Senator Capito expressed full support for Senator Tommy Tuberville's amendment to the SAVE Act, which seeks to ban transgender athletes from participating in female sports. She stated, 'To me, this is simply an issue of fairness.'
She emphasized the bill includes an amendment to prohibit biological males from competing in women's athletics, calling it a fairness issue to ensure women athletes can compete on a level playing field.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito spoke on Capitol Hill about her support for an amendment to the SAVE America Act that would ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The amendment, sponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville, aims to prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports at both high school and collegiate levels. Capito emphasized the amendment is about protecting female student athletes and ensuring fairness in women's sports.
Capito supported the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 and said it would bring structure and stability to college athletics, prevent exploitation of student athletes, and the bill 'protects women's sports.'
With the athletics landscape in our country rapidly evolving, we must recommit ourselves to protecting female athletes and ensure they can always compete on a level playing field. I’m proud to continue championing this issue for young girls across West Virginia
Evidence
On January 13, 2026, Senator Shelley Moore Capito spoke at a Senate Republican Leadership press conference, expressing support for West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act, which was being argued before the Supreme Court. She emphasized the importance of fairness in women's sports and highlighted that 29 states have passed laws banning transgender individuals from participating in women's sports.
On March 20, 2026, Senator Capito spoke on Capitol Hill in support of an amendment to the SAVE America Act, sponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville, which would prohibit biological males from participating in women's sports at both high school and collegiate levels. She highlighted instances of unfairness and discomfort experienced by female athletes due to the participation of biological males in women's sports.
On January 30, 2025, Senator Capito co-sponsored the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, introduced by Senators Risch, Crapo, and Tuberville. The legislation aims to ensure Title IX provisions treat gender based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth and bans recipients of federal funding from allowing males to participate in women's sporting events.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito spoke on Capitol Hill about her support for an amendment to the SAVE America Act that would ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The amendment, sponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville, aims to prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports at both high school and collegiate levels. Capito emphasized the amendment is about protecting female student athletes and ensuring fairness in women's sports.
Senator Capito spoke on the Senate floor about the SAVE America Act, highlighting its provisions to require voter ID, proof of citizenship for voter registration, and measures related to transgender participation in women's sports. She emphasized the bill includes an amendment to prohibit biological males from competing in women's athletics, calling it a fairness issue to ensure women athletes can compete on a level playing field.
Senator Capito expressed full support for Senator Tommy Tuberville's amendment to the SAVE Act, which seeks to ban transgender athletes from participating in female sports. She stated, 'To me, this is simply an issue of fairness.' Capito also noted that Senate Republicans did not have the 60 votes needed to bypass the ongoing filibuster, indicating challenges in advancing the legislation.
At a Senate Republican Leadership press conference, Senator Capito spoke in support of West Virginia's Save Women's Sports Act, which was argued before the Supreme Court. She emphasized the importance of fairness in women's sports and expressed anticipation for the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter.
Senator Capito co-sponsored the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, introduced by Senators Risch, Crapo, and Tuberville. The legislation aims to preserve Title IX protections by ensuring that biological males cannot participate in women's sports, thereby maintaining fairness and safety for female athletes.
Congress.gov shows S.9 remained at the introduced stage and records the latest Senate action as a March 3, 2025 cloture vote that was not invoked, 51-45, with no amendments submitted.
Capito’s office said she supported the Tuberville amendment expected to be voted on, and that it would prohibit biological males from competing in women’s athletics; the statement framed the issue as a fairness concern and described the amendment as still pending debate.
At a June 4, 2026 Commerce Committee hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, senators heard testimony that the college-sports system is harming women’s and Olympic sports and needs legislative action to preserve athletic opportunities.
Congress.gov records that S.9 was still at the introduced stage and that the latest Senate action was a March 3, 2025 cloture vote that was not invoked, with no amendments submitted.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a June 4, 2026 hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, and the committee release said the bill was meant to protect women’s and Olympic sports while addressing the college sports system. The release showed the issue remained active in the Senate but did not show Shelley Moore Capito securing enactment of a federal ban on biological males competing in female athletics.
Assessments
The promise was to support federal legislation or amendments on this issue, not necessarily to secure final enactment. Capito materially fulfilled that commitment during her current Senate term by co-sponsoring the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in January 2025 and publicly backing Senator Tuberville's amendment in March 2026. The evidence shows direct, on-record legislative and advocacy support by Capito herself, which satisfies the stated promise even though the measures did not pass.
Capito did actively support and co-sponsor federal efforts to prohibit biological males from competing in women’s sports, including the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and later amendment efforts, so she made a real legislative push in office. But the cited bill remained at the introduced stage, cloture was not invoked, no amendment was adopted, and no federal prohibition was enacted, so the promised outcome was not delivered.
Capito fulfilled the action promised: she co-sponsored federal legislation, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, and publicly supported related amendments intended to prohibit biological males from competing in female athletics. The available evidence does not show the proposal became law, but the claim was framed as supporting legislation or amendments, not guaranteeing enactment. Her support and co-sponsorship occurred during her current Senate term, so timing is same_term.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito made a clear legislative effort to fulfill the promise by co-sponsoring the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and supporting amendments to the SAVE America Act to prohibit biological males from competing in female athletics. She also spoke publicly in favor of these measures and worked with other senators on relevant legislation. However, due to the Senate filibuster and lack of sufficient votes, the proposed changes did not advance into law, and the policy outcome was not achieved during the same term.
Senator Capito made multiple legislative and public efforts to support and sponsor bills and amendments intended to prohibit biological males from participating in women's sports. However, there is no evidence that these legislative efforts were enacted into law or resulted in the promised nationwide policy outcome. As the goal was not fulfilled despite clear, serious legislative attempts, the appropriate classification is 'never' with an effort badge.