The House of Representatives has passed a GOP-led bill that would prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports at federally funded schools and educational institutions. The bill, known as the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” was introduced by Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida and passed with a vote of 218 to 206.

Two Democrats, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar of Texas, voted in favor of the bill, while Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina voted “present.” The bill is expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled Senate, although its future remains uncertain due to the tight margin of partisan control.

Republicans argue that transgender women have a physical advantage over cisgender women in sports, which could limit opportunities for others. However, Democrats say that the bill is discriminatory and undermines the rights of LGBTQ students.

“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” said Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”

The bill seeks to amend federal law to require that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” for the purpose of determining compliance with Title IX in athletics.

If passed, the bill would have significant implications for transgender students across the country. As McBride noted, “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”