Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced legislation to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, clarifying that Title IX protections against “sex discrimination” refer to “biological sex as determined at birth by a physician.”

The legislation will block federal funding to schools if they permit transgender males and females to play sports on teams with students of the opposite biological sex.

“Title IX was a historic provision championed by Hawaii’s own Congresswoman Patsy Mink to provide equal opportunity for women and girls in high school and college sports,” Gabbard said in her statement.

“Title IX is being weakened by some states who are misinterpreting Title IX, creating uncertainty, undue hardship and lost opportunities for female athletes…Our legislation protects Title IX’s original intent which was based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex,” she added.