[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 542 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 542

Supporting the observation of ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' 
     on February 7, 2024, to raise awareness of and celebrate the 
               achievements of girls and women in sports.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 5, 2024

 Ms. Butler (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. 
    Hirono, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Rosen, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the observation of ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' 
     on February 7, 2024, to raise awareness of and celebrate the 
               achievements of girls and women in sports.

Whereas ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' began in 1987 as a day to 
        recognize and acknowledge the success and progress 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 enactment 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 over 50 years ago;

Whereas 60 percent of high school girls participate in a sport;
Whereas the share of women participating in college sports has nearly tripled 
        since the enactment of title IX, but female college athletes still 
        comprise only 44 percent of the total collegiate athlete population, 30 
        percent of whom are White women and only 14 percent of whom are Black, 
        Indigenous, and People of Color (referred to in this preamble as 
        ``BIPOC'') women;
Whereas, in 1971, women coached 90 percent of collegiate women's teams, but as 
        of 2024, women coach only 41.2 percent of all National Collegiate 
        Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as ``NCAA'') women's 
        teams and BIPOC women represent only 7 percent of head coaches;
Whereas there is a need to restore women to those positions to ensure fair 
        representation and provide role models for young female athletes;
Whereas, for too long, the many achievements of women in sports have not 
        received fair recognition;
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 Billie Jean King, Flo Hyman, 
Gertrude Ederle, Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Mildred Ella ``Babe'' 
Didrikson Zaharias, Mary Lou Retton, and Patty Berg, whose stories and 
adversity faced have helped strengthen women sports by--

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

    G    (B) setting 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 break down the barriers of 
        discrimination, inequality, and injustice in sports;
Whereas girls and young women in minority communities are doubly disadvantaged 
        because--

    (1) schools in minority communities have fewer athletic opportunities 
than schools in predominately White communities; and

    (2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in minority 
communities exacerbates the existing gender inequity between girls and 
boys;

Whereas the 4-time World Cup champion United States Women's National Soccer Team 
        has led the fight domestically and internationally for equal treatment 
        and compensation for female athletes;
Whereas United States women athletes will compete on the world stage in 2024 at 
        the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics;
Whereas, with the recent enactment of laws such as the Equal Pay for Team USA 
        Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-340), Congress has taken steps--

    (1) to ensure all athletes representing the United States in global 
competition receive equal pay and benefits regardless of gender; and

    (2) to represent to the world, and especially young girls, that 
everyone deserves equal pay and benefits; and

Whereas, with increased participation by women and girls in sports, it is more 
        important than ever to continue protecting title IX and upload the 
        mandate of the law of equitable and fair treatment and more general 
        principles of gender equity throughout the sport system: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate supports--
            (1) observing ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' on 
        February 7, 2024, to recognize--
                    (A) all women 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--
                    (A) to build on the success of the Equal Pay for 
                Team USA Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-340) and ensure 
                equal pay for all female athletes; and
                    (B) to protect and uphold title IX of the Education 
                Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) so that 
                future generations of athletes will not have to 
                experience the inequitable and unfair treatment that 
                many athletes have had to endure, and continue to 
                endure, today; and
            (3) all ongoing efforts--
                    (A) to promote gender equity in sports, including 
                equal pay and equal access to athletic opportunities 
                for girls and women; and
                    (B) to support the commitment of the United States 
                to expanding athletic participation for all girls and 
                future generations of women athletes.
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