[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3710-H3711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARKING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I missed the
opportunity this afternoon to speak with my colleagues with regard to
the celebration of title IX, its 30-year anniversary. I am pleased to
stand in support of such a wonderful piece of legislation that gave
young women all across this country an opportunity to step up, step out
and be a part of a team and have the encouragement to win.
I am particularly very proud that in the city of Cleveland we have
already hosted the NCAA women's volleyball championships and I am going
to be chairing the NCAA women's basketball Final Four Championships in
Cleveland in 2007. In addition, in 2004 in the city of Cleveland, we
will be hosting the international children's games. This will be the
first time these games will be hosted in the United States, and I am
pleased to have an opportunity to host them right in the city of
Cleveland.
We have learned over the years that having the opportunity to
participate in sports has been a way that young men and young women
have an opportunity to learn how to compete, what team building means,
what it means to be a part of a group, what it means to win, what it
means to cheer, what it means to be disciplined, what it means to have
a chance to work out and then show what workout does once you have an
opportunity to work with your team.
Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to have an opportunity to congratulate
the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) as she celebrates with all of
her colleagues and this Congress as we celebrate title IX.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, thirty years ago, Title IX of
the Education Amendments was enacted. This legislation represents the
very best of what we come here to do.
I am proud of Title IX. I am proud of Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, on which it was modeled. I am proud of the legislation
which followed: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age
Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990.
I am proud every time our federal government reaffirms its commitment
to the offer extended to us and to every one of our constituents. It
invites us to come to it for assistance, for the education of our
children, for the healthcare for our families, for the financial
security of our parents, for the clean air and water for us all, or to
simply come, participate as a citizen of this nation, and when we come
to it, we know that our gender, our race, our religion, and our beliefs
will not affect the treatment we receive. We are equal; we will enjoy
equity.
There have been times in our history when our government has put
forth a lesser offer, or an offer not extended to all. There have been
times when the offer was made only after fierce debates by this body.
As we do not all agree now, we did not all agree at those times. The
arguments that were made against equity then had been made before, and
will probably be made again. We will fight them with a conviction
embraced for the principles it represents, and guided by the knowledge
of past arguments, fought and won.
The equitable educational opportunities our daughters receive because
of Title IX have prepared them to fight with us. They will create the
legislation of which we will all be proud. They have experienced less
of the injustices experienced by their mothers before the enactment of
Title IX. This is a victory, and one of which we should all be keenly
aware.
Through Title IX, the federal government has made a promise to our
daughters that they will not be discriminated against by it, or by any
agency, organization, or institution that receives its support. Today
we honor this promise, the work of all those who fought to establish
it, and we recommit ourselves to its strengthening and its expansion.
Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the thirtieth
anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation, which ensures that
young women are given the same opportunities their male counterparts
enjoy, both in academics and in athletics.
When this legislation was passed in 1972, over three and a half
million boys were participating in high school athletics, while less
than 900,000 girls did so. During the last school year, however, and
after 30 years of Title IX, the number of girls has tripled, with over
2.7 million girls playing a high school sport. These statistics clearly
demonstrate that Title IX has been enormously effective in bringing
young women into sports.
However, there is still work to be done. Though female athletic
participation has increased over 800% since the passage of Title IX,
according to the Women's Sports Foundation, male athletes still receive
1.1 million more participation opportunities than their female
counterparts.
Title IX states that, ``No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of
sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity
receiving federal aid.'' This mission is as important today as it was
thirty years ago. Together, as parents, teachers, coaches and mentors,
we should continue to stress the importance of Title IX, and recognize
the great strides it has made in leveling the playing field, literally,
for young women in this country.
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out in support of
celebrating the 30th anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972. As we all know, Title IX prohibits sex
discrimination in educational institutions from receiving federal
funds. Title IX has been a crucial part of setting a standard of equal
educational opportunity in this country.
Title IX aids in the disintegration of inequitable admissions
policies, increases opportunities for women in nontraditional fields of
study such as math and science, improves vocational education
opportunities for women, reduces discrimination against pregnant
students and teen mothers, protects female students from sexual
harassment in our schools, and increases athletic opportunities for
girls and women and has heightened the world's awareness of the
importance of women's sports.
Even though this 30-year-old legislation has done so much good in
this country, it is again under fire as a result of a lawsuit filed
against the U.S. Department of Education alleging that it is to blame
for the elimination of some men's minor sports. The Department of
Justice, fortunately, is seeking dismissal of the suit, but this case
has revived discussions about gender equity and the impact of Title IX.
I stand today with my colleagues to reaffirm the necessity of Title
IX and to celebrate its
[[Page H3711]]
success over the past 30 years. May Title IX remain a reminder to us
that our legislative system is created to protect the inherent and
equal rights of all of our country's citizens, regardless of race,
gender, or creed.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in commemorating
the 30th anniversary of Title IX and I thank my distinguished
colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, for organizing this special order.
As a member of the Education Committee in 1972, Congresswoman Mink
helped craft Title IX, and engineer its passage. The day that it came
to the floor, she was called away because her daughter had been in an
automobile accident. She knew the vote would be close--and in fact the
bill lost by one vote. But Patsy, through sheer force of will, forced
then-Speaker Carl Albert to do the unheard of--to bring the bill up on
the floor again. That time it passed.
Thank you, Patsy, for your leadership and dedication and for leaving
women and girls a lasting legacy of your commitment to equal
opportunity for all. While Title IX is best known for participation of
women in sports, its real purpose is much broader: to end gender
discrimination in all education programs. I always say that the three
most important issues facing Congress are our children, our children,
and our children.
Education is the most dynamic investment we can make and will bring
more funds into the Treasury than any tax incentive you can name.
Educated students become knowledgeable, productive citizens who are
able to compete in the information economy. Title IX ensures that the
full range of education opportunity is available to all of our
children. For 30 years, Title IX has taken down the ``No Girls
Allowed'' signs from our schools' locker rooms, shop classes, and
career counseling centers. Today, because of Title IX, we are also
taking down the signs from corporate boardrooms.
While there is much to celebrate on this 30th anniversary, there is
also important work to be done. Barriers still exist to keep women and
girls from achieving their full potential. Technology education is one
of those barriers. Technology is the driving force of our economy and
the sector most in need of educated workers. According to the
Department of Labor, nearly 75 percent of future jobs will require the
use of computers. Yet less than 33 percent of participants in computer
courses are girls.
Girls are five times less likely than boys to consider a technology-
related career path or plan to take postsecondary technology classes.
We must use the power of Title IX to ensure girls are encouraged to
participate in computer and technology programs that can broaden their
options for the future. Before we can do that, however, we have to lay
the basic infrastructure for technology educational for all our
students. The first step toward preparing girls for the new economy is
providing them with qualified teachers. Less than 2 percent of all
computer/technology teachers today have a degree in computer science,
and only 30 percent of teachers say they received any technology
training.
Unfortunately, President Bush's budget eliminates the program that
would help teachers effectively integrate technology into the
classroom. As a mother of four adult daughters, I have seen the results
of Title IX. Some are visible, like the growing number of girls on
soccer fields and basketball courts. Equally important, though less
tangible, is the message that Title IX sends to women and girls: Your
education is crucial and your future is limitless.
Young women today believe they can do anything. And they can. We must
continue to support this belief by fulfilling and sustaining the
promise of Title IX.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 30th anniversary of
the passing of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally assisted
education programs or activities. Since its passing, Title IX has been
crucial in setting a standard of equal education opportunities. Women
and girls today, tend to be better educated and enjoy many
opportunities that far surpass those of previous generations.
In the past 30 years, the growing trend has been for most to equate
Title IX with women in athletics. Women and girls' participation in
sports has increased. By 2001 nearly 2.8 million girls participated in
athletics, an increase of more than 847 percent from 1971. While the
achievements of female athletes is impressive, the effects of the
legislation have reached well beyond that of sports.
We have steadily seen an increase in women's enrollment in school,
accessibility to funding for school, and women in fields of study
generally dominated by their male counterparts. In 1971, only 18% of
young women completed four or more years of college. By 2006, women are
projected to earn 55% of all bachelor's degrees. Similarly, women have
made significant progress in graduate and professional fields. In 1994,
women earned 43% of all law school degrees, compared with 7% in 1972.
And in 1999, women earned nearly 50% of all medical degrees; in 1972,
only 9% of medical degrees were earned by women.
As a result of Title IX, women have the opportunity to grow and excel
in areas once reserved only for men; creating a more prosperous and
fruitful nation. Today we must celebrate the advancements women have
made over the last 30 years as well as recognize that there is still
more work to be done. Disparities in salaries continue to exist between
men and women. We continue to see less women in administrative
positions, hard sciences and we need to create additional opportunities
for more women to enter the non-traditional fields of science and math.
Today we celebrate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972's
pivotal role in expanding women's educational opportunities and applaud
the progress women have made over the last 30 years. In recognizing and
celebrating Title IX's importance in today's society, we are ensuring
that equal educational opportunities continue to be afforded to women
and women's roles in society continue to be strengthened and
appreciated.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the women of
American Samoa, who continue to excel because of Title IX. Growing
numbers of Samoan women are furthering their education, both in
American Samoa and in the United States. Many return home to contribute
to the island community, while others remain in the U.S. as teachers,
lawyers, professors, doctors and judges. Malo lava taumafai ia outou
tama'ita'I Samoa i le la outou sogasoga ma le finafinau I le su'eina o
le poto. E fia momoli atili ai le Fa'afetai tele I le porokolame o le
Title IX mo le avanoa ua faia lea mo tama'ita'i Samoa.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th
anniversary of Title IX, the Education Amendments of 1972. Thirty years
ago, Title IX was proposed to prohibit sex discrimination in federally-
funded education programs. Since its enactment, Title IX has made a
tremendous impact in bridging the gap between gender inequality in our
educational system. Title IX has made improvements in the admission
process, financial aid and scholarships allocation, educational
programs and activities, health insurance benefits, marital status,
athletics, and employment opportunities for women. Its extraordinary
efforts have enriched the educational experience for women over the
past 30 years.
In June 1997, the Department of Education attributed the rise in the
level of education for women to Title IX. Its statistics are striking.
In 1994, for example, about 63% of female high school graduates were
enrolled in college, comparing to 43% in 1973. By 1994, about 38% of
women received medical degrees comparing to the year in which Title IX
was first introduced, in 1972, only 9% of medical degrees were awarded
to women. In the same year that Title IX was enacted, about 7% of
female students in law schools received a law degree. Whereas in 1994,
about 43% of law degrees belong to women.
Title IX also helps lower the drop-out rates of women in school. It
increases women's chances to enter what was once male-dominated fields
such as math and sciences. It gives women more opportunities to
complete post-secondary, graduate, and professional degrees.
Furthermore, since its enactment, Title IX has increased athletic
scholarships for women and thus expanded women's participation in
athletics.
A Connecticut judge said in 1972: ``Athletic competition builds
character in our boys. We do not need that kind of character in our
girls.'' Today, athletic departments around the country are required to
provide athletic opportunities for women and men proportionate to their
enrollment. In addition, schools are required to foster programs that
meet the interests of women. No longer is athletic competition just a
man's world.
As the World Cup is taking place, I'd like to take this opportunity
to congratulate the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team for their recent
accomplishment in the quarter final. And it is my hope that they bring
home the Gold, just as the U.S. Women's National Team did in 1999.
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is consistently one of the
best, if not the best in the world. There is no doubt in my mind that
their success is due, in large part, to Title IX, which gave them the
support, financial and otherwise, that were not available to them prior
to the birth of Title IX.
Title IX and subsequent related legislation have played a tremendous
role in improving the lives of women since its enactment in 1972. And I
am confident it will continue to elevate the status of women in society
in the years to come.
I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the 30th anniversary
of Title IX.
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