[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5446-H5447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TITLE IX AND WOMEN'S SPORTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, one of the most exciting 
sporting events of all time took place in Pasadena's famed Rose Bowl. 
Over 90,000 spectators, a record attendance for a women's sports 
contest, saw the United States women's soccer team defeat China on 
penalty kicks. Many millions more around the world saw this thrilling 
match on television. In this country television ratings were higher 
than for the National Hockey League finals and most of the National 
Basketball Association playoffs.
  I congratulate all the wonderful young women who participated, not 
just those from the victorious U.S.

[[Page H5447]]

 team but also the fine athletes from the Chinese squad and 
representatives from the other 14 nations that participated in this 
wonderful Women's World Cup. Marla Messing and Donna de Verona deserve 
everyone's gratitude for staging this magnificent tournament.
  I would also like to praise ABC and ESPN for showing every match in 
its entirety, without commercial interruption, and live, except when 
two contests were being played at the same time.
  The opportunity for the American public to see the action is 
something I have long fought for. When the American women's soccer team 
won the world championship in 1991 in China by defeating Norway 2 to 1, 
the final was only seen in this country by tape delay several weeks 
later. In contrast, the same match was shown live on two stations in 
Norway.
  Consequently, I protested strongly when Americans were denied the 
right to see on television any of the soccer or women's softball 
matches in the 1996 Olympics. This was inexcusable, particularly since 
both American teams won the gold medal. I also objected at the poor 
treatment received by television viewers who wished to watch the U.S. 
men's and women's hockey teams at last year's winter Olympics. Since 
the U.S. Olympic committee is chartered by Congress, I am urging the 
House of Representatives' Committee on Government Reform, of which I am 
a member, to exert strong oversight so that the American public will 
receive better treatment at next year's Olympics. I know that Americans 
are anxious to see their beloved soccer team perform once more, and I 
am sure they will also enjoy our wonderful women's softball athletes 
when they get the opportunity to see them in action.
  I think it is important to call attention to the important role that 
Title IX, enacted into law in 1972, played in preparing our women's 
team for the World Cup, and I congratulate my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) for having authored and enacted 
that law in this House.
  Prior to the enactment of Title IX, female athletes in this country 
had limited chances to compete. I know when I was in school if I wished 
to be involved in athletics the only opportunity was to be a 
cheerleader. Donna de Verona, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming in 
the 1964 Olympics, was unable to obtain an athletic scholarship at an 
American University despite her considerable outstanding talent.
  We must not heed those who complain that Title IX is responsible for 
the elimination of college men's basketball, wrestling and other so-
called nonrevenue sports teams. In fact, we must find ways of extending 
the philosophy of Title IX to other areas where women are discriminated 
against in the sports world. In this regard, I refer to professional 
sports.
  In this respect, 27 years after the introduction of Title IX, women 
are drastically discriminated against in the professional sports world. 
As of now, the women who won the world championships for the United 
States in women's soccer have no opportunity to play as professionals 
in this country. On the other hand, the members of the men's soccer 
team that finished last in France at the Men's World Cup last year have 
ample opportunities to play professionally in the United States and 
abroad. I do not wish to demean our American men's soccer athletes. I 
am confident they will do much better at the next world cup.
  I think it is important to point out that virtually all men's 
professional sports teams receive significant government assistance in 
the form of subsidies and substantial tax breaks for whatever venue 
they play in. Many of the stadiums are actually constructed by 
municipal governments and either turned over to a team or leased at a 
very low rent. I believe that we must see that these facilities and tax 
breaks are available to women's professional teams on an equal basis.

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