WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced an investigation into the State of Minnesota for possible discrimination against female athletes by allowing biological males to compete on girls’ and women’s sports teams.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities of HHS funding recipients, such as the Minnesota Department of Education and by extension, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).

Congressman Finstad applauded the investigation, saying, “Girls deserve a fair playing field in competitive sports, which the State of Minnesota has denied them by allowing biological males to take roster positions, scholarships, and even championships away from them. As a dad and husband to strong female athletes, I’m glad to see the Trump Administration upholding fairness and equal opportunities in women’s athletics programs by investigating Minnesota’s continued efforts to undermine Title IX protections against biological men playing on girls’ sports teams.”