[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 398 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 398

Supporting the observation of ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' 
     on February 7, 2018, to raise awareness of and celebrate the 
               achievements of girls and women in sports.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 7, 2018

 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Thune, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Collins, Ms. 
 Warren, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the observation of ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' 
     on February 7, 2018, to raise awareness of and celebrate the 
               achievements of girls and women in sports.

Whereas athletic participation helps develop self-discipline, initiative, 
        confidence, and leadership skills, and opportunities for athletic 
        participation should be available to all individuals;
Whereas, because the people of the United States remain committed to protecting 
        equality, it is imperative to eliminate the existing disparities between 
        male and female youth athletic programs;
Whereas the share of athletic participation opportunities of high school girls 
        has increased more than sixfold since the passage of title IX of the 
        Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (referred to in 
        this preamble as ``title IX''), but high school girls still experience--

    (1) a lower share of athletic participation opportunities than high 
school boys; and

    (2) a lower level of athletic participation opportunities than high 
school boys enjoyed almost 50 years ago;

Whereas female participation in college sports has nearly tripled since the 
        passage of title IX, but female college athletes still only comprise 44 
        percent of the total collegiate athlete population;
Whereas, in 1972, women coached more than 90 percent of collegiate women's 
        teams, but now women coach less than 50 percent of all collegiate women 
        teams, and there is a need to restore women to those positions to ensure 
        fair representation and provide role models for young female athletes;
Whereas the long history of women in sports in the United States--

    (1) features many contributions made by female athletes that have 
enriched the national life of the United States; and

    (2) includes inspiring figures, such as Gertrude Ederle, Wilma Rudolph, 
Althea Gibson, Mildred Ella ``Babe'' Didrikson Zaharias, and Patty Berg, 
who overcame difficult obstacles in their own lives to--

    G    (A) advance participation by women in sports; and

    G    (B) set positive examples for the generations of female athletes 
who continue to inspire people in the United States today;

Whereas the United States must do all it can to support the bonds built between 
        all athletes to break down the barriers of discrimination, inequality, 
        and injustice;
Whereas girls and young women in minority communities are doubly disadvantaged 
        because--

    (1) schools in minority communities overall have fewer athletic 
opportunities; and

    (2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in those 
communities are not evenly distributed between male and female students;

Whereas, with the recent passage of bills such as the Protecting Young Victims 
        from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (S. 534, 
        115th Congress), Congress has taken steps to--

    (1) protect female athletes from the crime of sexual abuse; and

    (2) empower athletes to report sexual abuse when it occurs; and

Whereas, with the beginning of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, it is 
        more important than ever to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes 
        by protecting those athletes from the crime of sexual abuse, which has 
        harmed so many young athletes within youth athletic organizations: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate supports--
            (1) observing ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' on 
        February 7, 2018, to recognize--
                    (A) the female athletes who represent schools, 
                universities, and the United States in their athletic 
                pursuits; and
                    (B) the vital role that the people of the United 
                States have in empowering girls and women in sports;
            (2) marking the observation of National Girls & Women in 
        Sports Day with appropriate programs and activities, including 
        legislative efforts to protect young athletes from the crime of 
        sexual abuse so that future generations of female athletes will 
        not have to experience the pain that so many female athletes 
        have had to endure; and
            (3) all ongoing efforts to--
                    (A) promote equality in sports and access to 
                athletic opportunities for girls and women; and
                    (B) support the commitment of the United States to 
                expanding athletic participation for all girls and 
                future generations of women athletes.
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