Crapo Joins Letter Demanding Mountain West Conference Protect Women’s Sports

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo(R-Idaho) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative Burgess Owens (R-Utah) in sending a letter today urging the Mountain West Conference to ban biological males from competing in women's sports and protect biological female student-athletes. Several women's athletics programs at Mountain West member institutions, including Boise State University's Women's Volleyball team, recently forfeited games, risking their competitive standing to ensure the safety of their female athletes due to the presence of a biological male on the opposing team roster.

"Title IX recognizes the fundamental biological differences between men and women and allows each to pursue educational programs and activities equally, including athletics. Failure to recognize these biological differences between males and females puts our daughters and granddaughters in harm's way," wrote the lawmakers. "The Mountain West Conference is failing to create an environment that allows women to compete without fearing for their safety. As representatives of our states and as parents and grandparents, we demand you take action to reverse this unacceptable trend."

Crapo, Risch and Owens are joined by congressional Republicans from the mountain west region, including U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), John Curtis (R-Utah), Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Blake Moore (R-Utah) and Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming).

Read the full letter to Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Neverez here.