Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

January 16, 2025

Safeguarding Opportunities: Protecting Women’s Sports 

In every issue brought before the House of Representatives, I strive to explore all perspectives. Through thorough research and direct dialogue with stakeholders, I aim to grasp the full context of each topic.

While my stance can evolve with new information, my conviction regarding not allowing participation by biological males in women's sports has only strengthened. This is about preserving the integrity and fairness of women’s sports in Pennsylvania public schools, colleges and universities.

Imagine your daughter or granddaughter, a passionate track and field athlete, working tirelessly to excel. As she progresses to high school, the competition becomes increasingly fierce, with victories often decided by mere fractions of a second. Yet, at state-level competitions, you notice a pattern: the same two competitors consistently dominate—both of whom were born male and only recently transitioned to competing as females, despite their prior lack of success in male sports.

This scenario mirrors the situation in Connecticut, where Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, both born males, overshadowed biological female competitors in high school state championships. Their dominance led to a lawsuit by four female athletes, who argued that their chances for recognition and advancement were severely undermined by competing against individuals who were born male.

Pennsylvania faced a similar challenge when Lia Thomas, born Will Thomas, made headlines by winning multiple events during the 2022 Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Thomas had previously ranked 554th in the 200-yard freestyle as a male competitor—yet, upon transitioning, Thomas became the highest-scoring swimmer in women’s events. This sparked outrage and advocacy from female athletes like Riley Gaines, who are fighting for legislation that mandates athletes born male to compete in male categories.

The biological differences between men and women are indisputable. Males have physiological advantages that result from higher testosterone levels, including increased muscle mass and cardiovascular capacity. Women, while excelling in flexibility due to anatomical differences, cannot compete on equal footing when biological males enter their arenas.

This understanding prompted me to co-sponsor a proposal in Harrisburg titled the Protect Women’s Sports Act. It would stop transgender women from competing in women's sports, relying entirely on sex at the time of birth and not on gender identity to determine eligibility. This would apply to all public schools, colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. I co-sponsored the proposal during the last legislative session, but it was not advanced by the House Education Committee.

This legislation is essential to ensure female athletes are not sidelined or diminished in their opportunities for success.

I was also happy to see the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, which would address the issue on a national basis. The proposal must first be considered by the U.S. Senate before heading to the president’s desk.

The federal proposal is likely prompted by the new laws passed in recent years by several states. More than 25 states have passed similar laws or implemented a new policy through a regulatory process.

As a former athlete, where I earned accolades as the female athlete of the year as a senior in college and high school and the mother of daughter who was a college athlete, I recognize the unique challenges faced by women in sports.  

This is not about denying anyone's participation in sports or marginalizing transgender student athletes; it is about ensuring fairness and preserving the opportunities that Title IX was designed to protect. Women deserve the right to compete on a level playing field, free from the unfair advantages that biological males bring into their competitions. The Protect Women’s Sports proposal is a necessary step to uphold the integrity and future of women's athletics.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Now Open- The application period for the state’s 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is now open for eligible Pennsylvanians to begin claiming rebates on property taxes or rent paid last year. 

Income limits increased again this year to $46,520 for both homeowners and renters. This is due to a 2023 law I supported that calls for adjusting the income limit based on annual increases in the Consumer Price Index. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate is $1,000. 

The program is open to residents aged 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.

Remember – you do not need to pay anyone for assistance to apply for the rebates. Apply online at mypath.pa.gov, or contact my contact my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or my New Kensington office at 724-472-4102 for assistance.

Applications for 2025 Pennsylvania House Scholarship Available - High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarship.  

Each year the program awards a four-year scholarship to two students preparing for post-secondary education. It is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.  

To qualify, students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.

The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.  For more information and an application, visit their website at tfec.org and navigate to the scholarship section. The deadline to apply is April 15.

The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. Scholarships are awarded through an independent panel of judges chosen by the foundation.



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper