[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 86 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2002

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, this month marks the 30th anniversary of 
title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972. This legislation 
prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive 
Federal funds. It has been instrumental, in my opinion, in helping 
women get into educational programs where they had previously been 
underrepresented, such as the math and sciences. It has helped to 
encourage women to break job barriers and obtain careers, such as 
engineers, doctors and mathematicians, which in turn has diversified 
our workforce and infused our society with an energy and potential that 
had not been tapped for centuries.
  It is really incredible, when we think of this country and we think 
of how we excluded on the basis of gender so many talented people. I am 
the father of three daughters. And the concept that these incredibly 
talented, energetic people would have been excluded based upon their 
gender is despicable. We have come a long way in this country not only 
on gender but on race, ethnicity, and national origin. Title IX was a 
tremendous contributor to that progress.
  Perhaps the biggest achievement of title IX is the fact that it has 
leveled the playing field for men and women in sports. It mandates 
equal treatment for playing opportunities, access to athletic 
scholarships, equipment, facilities, and coaching. The numbers paint a 
powerful portrait. In the 30 years since title IX, the number of girls 
participating in high school sports has skyrocketed from 200,000 to 
almost 3 million, an 800 percent-plus increase. At the intercollegiate 
level, the number of participants is five times greater than before 
title IX was enacted.
  But what an appropriate thing it was to say we are going to treat 
people based upon, as Martin Luther King said, the content of their 
character or the abilities that they have. We said that in the 
Disabilities Act. We said it in title IX, how important it is for us to 
continually emphasize it is what people can do that we need to focus 
on, not their gender or race or disability, not some arbitrary and 
mostly capricious distinction that we draw.
  Clearly, the dated stereotype that women are not interested in 
athletics has been shattered as the door of opportunity continues to 
open.
  Title IX has allowed the desires and passions of millions of women to 
be realized. They participate in sports. They enjoy sports. They 
succeed in competitive sports.
  Competitive athletics have increased the academic success of young 
women and make it less likely that they will become involved with 
alcohol and drug abuse. The emotional and physical benefits women and 
girls gain from participation are invaluable. We know that physical 
participation is important, not only for your physical but also your 
mental capacities.
  At a time when many young women become critical of their appearance 
and grapple with eating disorders and low self-esteem, sports helps 
young women develop confidence and a positive body image. In the long 
term, athletic activities decrease a woman's chance of developing heart 
disease and breast cancer. So it is truly extraordinarily helpful.
  Mia Hamm, and what an extraordinary athlete. she is, the captain of 
the U.S. soccer team, which won the 1999 Women's World Cup, once 
stated, ``What I love about soccer is the way it makes me feel about 
myself. It makes me feel that I can contribute.'' She is part of the 
daughters of title IX who have paved a path for millions of female 
athletes to follow. Her statement hits the nail right on the head, as 
it highlights the selfconfidence and teamwork skills sports helped to 
develop and define.
  Title IX is, of course, not without its critics, but I think for the 
most part they are misguided. They blame title IX for eliminating some 
men's minor sports, but the reality is title IX provides institutions 
with the flexibility to determine how to provide equity for their 
students.
  A March 2001 GAO study found that 72 percent of colleges and 
universities that added women's teams did so without cutting any men's 
teams. In fact, men's overall intercollegiate athletic participation 
has risen since the passage of title IX. This truly was a win/win 
situation for men as well as and particularly for women.
  The complaint to be brought against title IX is that it does not go 
far enough, that the advancement for women in education and athletics, 
no matter how positive, must go further.
  As part of today's celebration of title IX, I would like to recognize 
Dr. Deborah A. Yow, the athletic director for the University of 
Maryland. The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) is a crusty, 
conservative Member of the House of Representatives; a wonderful human 
being, a good-hearted human being, but not one that I perceive in the 
forefront of feminism in America, and I say that affectionately.
  He knows full well that I am closely associated with the University 
of Maryland. He came up and said, you know what, you have got a woman 
you ought to hire at the University of Maryland. She is a friend of 
mine, Deborah Yow, and is under consideration to be the athletic 
director at the University of Maryland.
  Now, at that point in time there were no women athletic directors at 
the level I-A schools. But the fact that the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Coble) came up to me and said Deborah Yow could do that 
job, I went back to my office and picked up the phone and called the 
then-president of the University of Maryland, who is now our new 
chancellor of our system, and told him, Britt, I have just talked to a 
person, this Deborah Yow must be extraordinary. Shortly thereafter, 
Deborah Yow was hired. She is now the athletic director, and of course 
we finished 10-1 in football and won the national basketball 
championship, under a woman athletic director. Those were men's teams; 
and we have won numerous championships in lacrosse and field hockey for 
our women's teams.
  Her sister is a major athletic leader in our country as well. Her 
outstanding career achievements serve to exemplify the important 
contributions made by women in the athletic arena, as well as to our 
entire society.
  In a male-dominated profession, 91.6 percent of athletic directors in 
Division I universities being men, Debbie has not only met the 
challenges of her profession, but she has raised the bar for all. Under 
Debbie's leadership, the Terrapins ranked nationally as one of the top 
20 athletic programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World 
Report. The University of Maryland under her leadership has established 
an incredibly strong athletic program with exemplary student athletes, 
coaches and administrators.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, in 1972, when the Congress and the country 
said we are going to make sure that everybody, irrespective of gender, 
can participate equally and achieve to the extent of their character 
and their ability, we made a statement and adopted a policy that has 
made America a better country. Title IX has truly made our country 
stronger.

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