NW Illinois News

Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie expressed his dissatisfaction with the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) response, which came nearly a month after the House Republican Caucus submitted a formal letter seeking clarity on federal protections for women and girls in sports.

McCombie criticized the IHSA, stating, "The IHSA has once again chosen deflection over direction, and ambiguity over action. Their response is not just late—it’s weak. Saying, 'It’s not our problem,' doesn’t serve the students of this state. It’s not leadership—it’s a cop-out."

He emphasized that the issue at hand is centered on student safety rather than politics. McCombie said, "This is not about politics but student safety and delaying clarity on this issue only prolongs the problem. If state law contradicts federal law, then the path forward is to work in good faith to resolve that conflict—not hide from it and risk losing federal dollars."

Additionally, McCombie underscored the unity within the House Republican Caucus on this matter. He urged the IHSA, the Attorney General, the Governor, and other state officials to engage with federal authorities to clarify the issue before any harm comes to students. "The House Republican Caucus stands united. We call on the IHSA, the Attorney General, the Governor, and all state officials to engage with federal authorities and bring clarity to this issue before a student gets hurt—because one incident is one too many."