[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 40 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 40

   Reaffirming congressional commitment to title IX of the Education 
    Amendments of 1972 and its critical role in guaranteeing equal 
   educational opportunities for women and girls, particularly with 
                      respect to school athletics.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 30, 2003

Mr. Biden submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Reaffirming congressional commitment to title IX of the Education 
    Amendments of 1972 and its critical role in guaranteeing equal 
   educational opportunities for women and girls, particularly with 
                      respect to school athletics.

Whereas in 1972, Congress enacted title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 
        (referred to in this resolution as ``title IX''), the Federal statute 
        prohibiting sex discrimination in education;
Whereas title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in 11 areas of education, 
        including admissions, financial aid, academic programs, student 
        services, classroom assignments, vocational education, and athletics;
Whereas since the passage of title IX, opportunities for women and girls in 
        organized sports have dramatically increased;
Whereas the number of female college athletes has increased nearly 5-fold from 
        fewer than 32,000 prior to enactment of title IX to over 150,000 since 
        enactment of title IX;
Whereas women currently constitute more than 40 percent of all college athletes, 
        compared with 15 percent in 1972;
Whereas female athletes have higher graduation rates than female nonathletes;
Whereas a 2002 nationwide survey found that 82 percent of women business 
        executives played organized sports after grammar school, including 
        sports on school, intramural, or recreational teams;
Whereas there has been a marked increase in the number of female professional 
        sports and athletes since enactment of title IX;
Whereas at the high school level, almost 3,000,000 girls are playing competitive 
        sports today, while fewer than 300,000 girls played competitive sports 
        prior to the enactment of title IX;
Whereas today girls are entering high schools sports at almost twice the rate of 
        boys, as evidenced by the fact that there were 108,208 new female high 
        school athletes in 2000-2001 versus 59,230 new male athletes in that 
        year;
Whereas girls' participation in organized sports provides opportunities for 
        leadership, teamwork, and competition, contributes to positive body 
        image and good health, and offers critical personal contact with adult 
        role models;
Whereas girls who participate in sports are less likely to take drugs, drink 
        alcohol, smoke, or become pregnant than their nonparticipating peers;
Whereas female athletes often serve as role models both at school and within 
        their communities;
Whereas while the past successes of title IX are impressive, girls and women 
        still need the full protections of the Federal law;
Whereas in schools that participate in Division I of the National Collegiate 
        Athletic Association (referred to in this resolution as ``Division I 
        schools''), women represent 53 percent of the student body, but they 
        receive only 43 percent of the total athletic scholarship dollars, 32 
        percent of the recruiting dollars, and 36 percent of the operating 
        budget dollars;
Whereas in 2000, at Division I schools, for every $1 being spent on women's 
        sports, almost $2 was being spent on men's sports;
Whereas from 1992 to 1997, men's athletic operating budgets increased by 139 
        percent while women's athletic operating budgets increased by only 89 
        percent;
Whereas compliance with title IX does not require schools to eliminate men's 
        sports teams, nor does title IX impose strict quotas; and
Whereas all the Federal courts of appeals that have considered the 
        constitutionality of title IX have upheld the regulations and 
        requirements issued under title IX: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms its commitment--
                    (A) to ending all discrimination against women and 
                girls in elementary, secondary, and higher education; 
                and
                    (B) to equal opportunities for women and girls in 
                athletics;
            (2) recognizes the continued importance of title IX in 
        providing needed protections for women and girls;
            (3) expresses its concern that rolling back title IX 
        regulations and compliance requirements may jeopardize the 
        extraordinary progress of women and girl athletes; and
            (4) requests that the President maintain the integrity of 
        title IX by rejecting any attempts to weaken current 
        regulations and interpretations.
                                 <all>