Senate fails to end debate on the amendment to protect women and girls in athletics
On the Cloture Motion S.Amdt. 4421 to S.Amdt. 4420 to S. 1383 (No short title on file)
MAR 21, 2026 · 1:03 PM ET
CLOTURE ONS.Amdt. 4421Protect women and girls in athleticsMAR 21, 2026 · 1:03 PM ET
FAILED
49–41
A party-line vote. 11 votes short of the 60 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate. It is not a vote to pass the bill.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →READ THIS RIGHT
A yes on cloture only ends debate. It is not a vote to pass the bill.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →45 DEM2 IND53 REP
YEANAYCROSSEDTAP A SEAT
WHAT WAS DECIDED
What the Senate was voting on
IN PLAIN WORDS
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on S.Amdt. 4421, which proposed barring federally funded athletic programs from allowing people defined as male by reproductive biology and genetics at birth to compete in women’s or girls’ sports. S. 1383 would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register and photo identification to vote in federal elections. Cloture was rejected, with supporters 11 votes short of the 60 needed.
A YES MEANT
End debate on S.Amdt. 4421 and move toward a vote on its proposed sports-participation restriction.
A NO MEANT
Keep debating S.Amdt. 4421; this is not a vote against the amendment itself.
THE AMENDMENT · S.Amdt. 4421
Protect women and girls in athletics
Replaces title II with a rule making it a violation for recipients of federal funds that run, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs to allow people whose sex is male, based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth, in women’s or…
WHERE IT STANDS · WHAT’S NEXT
Passed both chambers; the House on Feb. 11, 2026. Next it goes to the President.
MAR 24Motion by Senator Thune to refer to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration the House message to accompany S. 1383 with instructions to report back forthwith with the…
MAR 25Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
MAR 26Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
WHY IT NEEDED 600 VACANT · 100 SWORN
60is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
HOW EACH SIDE VOTED
A straight party-line voteStraight party line.
9THParty-line Senate vote in March
8 FAILEDCloture votes that failed in the Senate in March
238THCloture vote in the Senate this Congress
THE JOURNEY
Every vote on S. 1383, in both chambersPassed the House. Stalled in the Senate.
CHAMBER CONTRASTThe House passed it 218–213 on Feb. 11, with 1 Democrat voting yes. The Senate failed to end debate on it 49–41 on March 21, 11 short of the 60 needed.
MAR 26SENATE#73Cloture on S.Amdt. 4732FAILED53–47MAR 24SENATE#68Motion to tableAGREED TO53–47MAR 24SENATE#67Motion to tableAGREED TO53–47MAR 21SENATE#61Cloture on the billFAILED41–49
MAR 21SENATE#60Cloture on S.Amdt. 4421THIS VOTEFAILED49–41
MAR 21SENATE—Cloture motion filedFILED
MAR 19SENATE—Cloture motion filedFILED
MAR 17SENATE#57Motion to proceedAGREED TO51–48FEB 11HOUSE#69On passagePASSED218–213FEB 11HOUSE#68Motion to recommitFAILED214–217FEB 11HOUSE#62On the rule (H.Res. 1057)AGREED TO216–215FEB 11HOUSE#61Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 1057)AGREED TO216–214DEC 18SENATE—Passed by unanimous consentPASSED
DEC 2SENATE—Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substituteREPORTED
HOUSE · FEB 11
218–213
PASSED · NEEDED 216
1 Democrat voted yes
SENATE · MAR 21
49–41
FAILED · NEEDED 60
IN THE SENATE · DEC 2 – 18
- DEC 2Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substituteREPORTED
- DEC 18Passed by unanimous consentPASSED
SENT TO THE HOUSE
IN THE HOUSE · FEB 11PASSED 218–213
- FEB 11#61Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 1057)AGREED TO216–214
- FEB 11#62On the rule (H.Res. 1057)AGREED TO216–215
- FEB 11#68Motion to recommitFAILED214–217
- FEB 11#69On passagePASSED218–2131 Democrat voted yes
IN THE SENATE · MAR 17 – 24PENDING
- MAR 17#57Motion to proceedAGREED TO51–48
- MAR 19Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 21Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 21#60THIS VOTECloture on S.Amdt. 4421FAILED49–4111 votes short of the 60 needed.
- MAR 21#61Cloture on the billFAILED41–49
- MAR 24#67Motion to tableAGREED TO53–47
- MAR 24#68Motion to tableAGREED TO53–47
IN THE NEWS · 301 STORIESIN THE NEWS
Coverage of this vote and its bill301 stories from 120 outlets
+ 23 OUTLETS NOT RATED
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- Associated PressCENTERSenate blocks amendment on transgender athletes during weekend session on voting bill - AP News
- Associated PressCENTERSenate blocks amendment on transgender athletes during weekend session on voting bill - AP News
- MediaiteCENTERFox News Host Has a Direct Question for Republican Lawmaker: ‘What Exactly Does Congress Do These Days?’
- Fox NewsRIGHTTrump sued by Schumer, Jeffries over executive order to increase federal involvement in elections
- Fox NewsRIGHTTrump sued by Schumer, Jeffries over executive order to increase federal involvement in elections
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- Fox NewsRIGHTSherrod Brown faces heat for backing judge who compared voter ID to racial suppression
- The Gateway PunditRIGHTWATCH: Democrat Congressman Tries to Scaremonger Church Attendees About Voter ID and It Blows Up in His Face
- The AtlanticLEFTThe Anger Trailing Congress Around the Country
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- VotebeatDespite the SAVE America Act stalling, Trump is reshaping election policy in many states
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- townhall.comRIGHTHouse Republicans Are Reportedly Furious Over the Senate Bill Funding DHS
- The Daily BeastLEFT'Upset' Mike Johnson's Wild Meltdown at MAGA Reps Exposed
- The New RepublicLEFTLauren Boebert Hit With Brutal Fact-Check on Airport Chaos
- townhall.comRIGHTWait, Did Bill Maher Agree With This GOP Rep About Trump's Iran Strikes?
- New York PostRIGHTSenate confirms Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary
- redstate.comRIGHTMorning Minute: Brian Schatz, the Runaway
- pjmedia.comRIGHTWhat Hakeem Jeffries Actually Said About ICE Will Leave You Speechless
- VictorygirlsblogRIGHTTrump Offers Up Deal For SAVE America Act And DHS Funding
- townhall.comRIGHTKen Paxton Returns Fire With a New Ad Targeting John Cornyn
- ABC NewsCENTERGOP Sen. Tillis says objectives of Iran war unclear: 'It's a real problem'
- Next News NetworkRIGHTEXPOSED: Democrat Senator BLOCKS Voter ID Bill After Party Claims They Support Election Security
- Fox NewsRIGHTConnecticut Dems demand IDs to recycle cans but reject GOP efforts to verify citizenship at polls
- Fox NewsRIGHTRep Boebert rejects call for another $200 billion to fund Iran war, while Americans 'can’t afford to live'
Lean describes the outlets, not the vote.
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