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United States Republican Representative, Nancy Mace of South Carolina recently introduced a bill to bar transgender women from using female bathrooms and other facilities on Capitol Hill.
The proposal comes ahead of the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
Mace’s two-page resolution, introduced on Monday, seeks to amend House rules to restrict access to single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings based on “biological sex.”
The measure claims that permitting “biological males” into women’s restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms could compromise the safety and dignity of female lawmakers, staff, and Capitol Hill employees.
The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, who won her state’s at-large House seat two weeks ago.
McBride dismissed the proposal as an attempt by far-right extremists to “manufacture culture wars” rather than address pressing issues like the cost of housing, health care, and child care.
The introduction of the bill has continued to spark debates and controversies.
In this article, Tribune Online takes a closer look at five facts about Nancy Mace’s bill.
1. Sponsor of the Bill
The bill was sponsored by 46-year-old Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Ruth Mace, who represents South Carolina’s 1st District.
2. Targeting the First Transgender Member of Congress
Mace’s bill comes in the wake of the election of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress. Mace has openly stated that her legislation is a direct response to McBride’s election, claiming it is necessary to protect the safety and dignity of women in single-sex facilities.
3. Legislative Details
The proposed legislation seeks to amend House rules to prohibit individuals from using facilities that do not correspond with their “biological sex.” This includes restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms within the Capitol and House office buildings. If passed, the House sergeant-at-arms would be tasked with enforcing this measure.
Read Also: Why Nancy Mace wants transgender women banned from using single-sex bathrooms
4. Potential Extension to Federal Properties
Mace has indicated plans to expand the scope of her legislation. She intends to introduce additional measures that would extend the ban to all federal properties and federally funded schools, aiming to establish what she describes as a critical safeguard for women’s rights.
5. Support and Opposition
The bill has sparked mixed reactions. While some Republican lawmakers, such as the House Speaker, Mike Johnson, have expressed support for Mace’s stance, others within the party worry that focusing on bathroom access detracts from more urgent legislative priorities. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have condemned the bill as an act of bullying against McBride and a distraction from critical national issues.
