[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H350-H354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM FOR 
         WINNING THE 2002 NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 41) congratulating the University of Portland 
women's soccer team for winning the 2002 NCAA Division I national 
championship.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 41

       Whereas, on December 8, 2002, the University of Portland 
     women's soccer team captured its first ever undisputed 
     collegiate national soccer championship;
       Whereas the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     Division I title is the first championship in any sport for 
     the University of Portland;
       Whereas the University of Portland Pilots' 20-4-1 record in 
     2002 tied the record for wins in a season in University of 
     Portland women's soccer history;
       Whereas head coach Clive Charles, the University of 
     Portland director of women's and men's soccer, has 
     successfully built a nationally recognized collegiate soccer 
     program, leading the University of Portland women's and men's 
     teams to a collective 12 conference championships and 16 NCAA 
     playoff berths, and producing players for the United States 
     National and Olympic teams;
       Whereas, on the way to the national championship, the 
     Pilots defeated 7 nationally ranked opponents, which included 
     a 2-1 title game triumph over the reigning champion, Santa 
     Clara University;
       Whereas the Pilots, the tournament's number 8 seed, now 
     hold the record as the lowest seeded-team to win the national 
     title in the women's national championship 21-year history;
       Whereas sophomore Christine Sinclair set an NCAA tournament 
     record with 21 points on 10 goals and 1 assist;
       Whereas each player, coach, trainer, and manager dedicated 
     time and effort to ensuring that the Pilots reached the 
     pinnacle of team achievement; and
       Whereas the students, alumni, faculty, and supporters of 
     the University of Portland are to be congratulated for their 
     commitment and pride in the Pilots' women's soccer program: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the University of Portland women's soccer 
     team for winning the 2002 NCAA Division I national 
     championship and recognizes the achievements of all the 
     players, coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in 
     this accomplishment;
       (2) requests that the President recognize the 
     accomplishments and achievements of the 2002 University of 
     Portland women's soccer team and invite them to Washington, 
     D.C., for a White House ceremony for national championship 
     teams; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     make available enrolled copies of this resolution to the 
     University of Portland for appropriate display and to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of the resolution to each coach and 
     member of the 2002 University of Portland women's soccer 
     team.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Isakson) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Resolution 41.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 41. This resolution recognizes 
and honors the talent and accomplishments of the University of Portland 
women's soccer team.
  In December, the Pilots won their first-ever national title in a 2-
to-1 win over Santa Clara University at the 2002 NCAA Women'S College 
Cup. The Pilots ended their season with an impressive 20 win, 4 loss, 1 
tie record.
  The Pilots' victory exemplifies the determination and dedication that 
is a hallmark of collegiate athletic programs. A national championship 
is an accomplishment that will characterize the University of 
Portland's women's soccer team as a viable competitor for years to 
come.
  Congratulations are in order to Head Coach Clive Charles and the 
entire women's soccer team at the University of Portland. I am happy to 
join the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) in honoring this 
extraordinary team in all of its accomplishments, and I wish all 
involved a very successful future.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 41 congratulating the 
University of Portland's women's soccer team for winning the NCAA 
Division 1 championship.
  On December 8, the University of Portland captured its first national 
championship. In fact, this is the University of Portland's first 
national championship in any sport.
  I want to start by extending my congratulations to Head Coach Clive 
Charles and to all of the athletes on the University's winning squad.
  Winning a championship brings national acclaim to a school, and the 
team's players and fans should treasure this exciting moment.
  While it is important that we focus on this victory, it is also 
critical to recognize how opportunities for women in sports have grown 
and the impact of title IX.

                              {time}  1615

  This win by the University of Portland Women's Soccer Team reminds us 
of the value and importance of this landmark statute.
  Unfortunately, Title IX is once again under attack. The 
administration's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics recently 
proposed so-called reforms to Title IX that would undermine this 
important civil rights statute. The commission's reports would 
recommend that girls and women be provided less athletic opportunity 
than boys and men by loosening protections and safeguards that have 
existed for many years. The commission was formed by Secretary Paige to 
advance the administration's agenda to weaken the opportunity for women 
and girls on the athletic field.
  With Title IX successes over the 3-plus decades of its existence why 
would we want to weaken it now? Women now constitute more than 40 
percent of

[[Page H351]]

those involved in college athletics, as opposed to 15 percent in 1972.
  While we may be confronted with proposals to change Title IX, I would 
advise the administration not to propose initiatives to weaken this 
critical law.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Blumenauer) and the rest of the Oregon delegation for introducing 
this resolution, and again to extend my congratulations to the 
University of Portland's Women's Soccer Team.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in 
yielding me time and the kind words both he and the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Isakson) had.
  It is an honor to recognize the outstanding achievement of the NCAA 
Women's Soccer champions from the University of Portland to share with 
the rest of the country the excitement in Portland as the Pilots 
brought home the university's first national championship.
  It must be noted that this is not just an achievement of an 
outstanding group of young women. It is a symbol of the achievement of 
an outstanding institution in Portland, Oregon. Once a small regional 
Catholic college, the University of Portland has grown in prestige and 
esteem, drawing a diverse student body from across the United States 
and around the world. The U.S. News and World Report last year ranked 
the university as one of the top five regional universities in the 
Nation.
  The faculty, students and trustees can be justly proud of the 
accomplishments of the last quarter century under the leadership of 
Father Paul Waldschmidt, the late Father Tom Oddo, and more recently, 
President David Tyson.
  The leadership of these presidents and trustees has had a tremendous 
impact on the academic programs and the physical development of the 
campus. But the University of Portland's Women's Soccer Team symbolizes 
that level of achievement, commitment and dedication. The Pilots 
Women's Soccer Team has for over a decade compiled an outstanding 
record, six times reaching the highest levels in play-off competition. 
But one must understand that these players are students first.
  The University of Portland has one of the highest rates of graduating 
student athletes among the NCAA Division I colleges and universities 
across the country.
  The soccer program at the University of Portland has produced women 
athletes who are today household names in the soccer world like Tiffeny 
Millbrett, Shannon MacMillan, both Olympians. They are role models for 
our community, for young women in Portland and around the country.
  I have watched my own daughter and her high school teammates be 
inspired by their example. I have watched these outstanding college 
athletes share their skill and knowledge of the game with children in 
the community. Part of this achievement is due to the outstanding 
coach, Clive Charles who, along with leading the Pilots to victory on 
the field, recently fought and won a difficult battle against cancer. 
He is one of only five coaches in NCAA history to win 400 games. All of 
those, we are pleased to say, are with the University of Portland.
  Even by the university's high standards, this particular win was 
special. This determined team fought from the eighth seed in the 
tournament to take it all, as has never been done before in college cup 
history. While one hesitates to single out specific players on this 
outstanding team, four Pilots were named to the all-tournament team, 
including Sinclair, Arase, defender Lauren Orlandos, and midfielder 
Erin Misaki.
  I would be remiss not to mention the numerous records that were 
broken by the team in this effort. Christine Sinclair set an NCAA 
tournament record with 21 points on 10 goals and one assist, shattering 
Mia Hamm's 1993 record of 16. Lauren Arase allowed just one goal in the 
2002 play-offs, setting an NCAA record for play-off goals, an average 
of 0.016, allowing just one goal in six games. Her gutsy effort was 
recognized in a recent New York Times article chronicling her will to 
push on despite a terrible injury in the championship game, 
illustrating the continued significance of Title IX.
  The Pilot women who brought this title are the pride of an 
outstanding university. There is no more fitting symbol of the power 
and purpose of women's athletics than their championship. I am pleased 
that President Bush will honor the team with a White House ceremony 
later this month, and I am pleased the House of Representatives is 
honoring them today with this resolution.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is only appropriate, particularly in light of 
the remarks of the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), 
for us to acknowledge at this time that after the tragic passing of our 
colleague Patsy Mink, Title IX was named after Patsy Mink and will 
forever carry that name.
  Secondly, I think it is important to understand that the 
opportunities provided by Title IX were the underpinning which allowed 
teams like the Portland Pilots Women's Soccer Team to reach the heights 
of achievement in NCAA collegiate athletics. All of us in this House 
are proud of the achievements of women's teams at the collegiate level 
and are committed to the continuing excellence of women's athletics and 
men's athletics at the collegiate level, without the exclusion of 
anyone. And I feel honored to have been one to have known Mrs. Mink, 
and I am honored today to acknowledge that Title IX has been named 
after Mrs. Mink.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) has been very 
supportive of Title IX, and he and I shared our great admiration of 
Mrs. Mink. I appreciate his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Woolsey).
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in 
congratulating the women of the University of Portland Soccer Team for 
winning the NCAA Division I National Championship. But let us not 
forget that we must also congratulate Patsy Mink's Title IX program, 
because if there were no Title IX, there would not be a soccer 
championship for women.
  Before Title IX, fewer than 30,000 girls participated in 
intercollegiate athletics. Today, more than 100,000 women compete. In 
high school, fewer than 7 percent of the young women played varsity 
sports prior to Title IX. Today, over 40 percent of young women do.
  Do these games mean that the work of Title IX is finished when it 
comes to sports, that it is time for the supporters of the Title IX to 
take their ball and go home? Absolutely not. Is contrary to the scare 
tactics being used by opponents of Patsy Mink's Title IX program, those 
who say that women's sports are eating up all the athletic funding. The 
facts show that women's sports continue to receive far less funding 
than men's sports.
  In the community of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, girls' sports receive one 
dime, one thin dime, for every dollar spent on boys' sports.
  In my own State of California, where women make up over 56 percent of 
the full-time students at our 108 State colleges, women's sports 
receive 35 percent of the athletic budget.
  In Georgia, more than 86 percent of the legislative grants for 
stadiums, lighting and equipment at public schools went to boys' sports 
programs. That would be 86 percent.
  So while Title IX is transforming the playing field for women's 
sports, and that is because of our late colleague, Patsy Mink, we are 
not close to being even between men's sports and women's sports. We 
must be strong and we must continue to support Title IX; otherwise the 
dream of an NCAA championship will not be alive for girls in their 
future.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, would the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Woolsey) wait for just a minute? I want to make a clarification.

[[Page H352]]

  Mr. Speaker, I think I heard that in the State of Georgia 85 percent 
of the money appropriated by the legislature went to men's athletic 
facilities.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ISAKSON. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, that is what I believe I said.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, it is unconstitutional and illegal in the 
State of Georgia for the State to spend any tax money on athletic 
facilities. Those all have to be done either privately by booster clubs 
in the secondary schools, and in post-secondary schools by the 
foundations of the universities. But we cannot in the State of the 
Georgia spend any public money on athletic facilities. I just wanted to 
make that clarification.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, I do not 
think I said Federal funding. I am sure I said funding in general.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, there was no State funding. That is the 
point I want to clarify.
  I thank the gentlewoman.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. That is too bad because investment in girls' sports is 
an investment in their future.
  Mr. ISAKSON. We are investing in their education and urging them to 
raise the funds to support their athletics, men and women.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Slaughter).
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time. I rise again to congratulate the University of Portland's Women's 
Soccer Team and to voice my concern about changing the regulations of 
Title IX.
  I come from an ``if it ain't broke, don't fix it'' school, and Title 
IX sure ain't broke.
  Let me say something about if we just educate women. We are very much 
concerned about the health of young people in the United States and the 
sedentary lives that they live. It certainly would make a lot of 
difference if we give all women the opportunity to develop themselves 
athletically so they can pass that on to their children. Remember, if 
we want to have all those boys for the Georgia football games, we sure 
better have mothers who know how to bring them up right.
  Senator Birch Bayh sponsored Title IX in 1972 because women in the 
United States were not getting an equal chance to participate in 
athletics and other educational opportunities. And since Title IX was 
enacted, both women's and men's participation in athletics has 
increased. But equality of opportunity still does not exist for our 
girls.
  On an average, men participate at higher rates than women and they 
get 35 percent more scholarship dollars than women, and their total 
operating budgets are always double, at least, those of women's sports. 
And yet the critics of Title IX argue that the male athletes are 
suffering because of Title IX.
  Mr. Speaker, Title IX ain't broke, but I will tell you what is. Some 
college football teams with rosters exceeding 100 athletes get to stay 
at four-star resorts before every home game. That is broke. Women do 
not get to do that. Athletic departments deciding that they would 
rather eliminate a wrestling program than to trim down the men's 
multimillion-dollar basketball budget, and then they blame the loss of 
the wrestling team on the women. That is not only broke, that is lame.
  The Commission on Athletic Opportunity mistakenly complaining that 
Title IX invokes a quota system and then in their recommendations they 
suggest a real numerical quota. That is broke and it is downright un-
American.
  I urge my colleagues to support the spirit of Title IX and Patsy Mink 
that so pervades this House. She fought so valiantly for it and for 
most of her life really was so concerned that something might happen to 
it. Keep it as it is and keep it as it has been for the last 30 years 
so that women and girls today, including the women who have graduated 
from the University of Portland, who now have a women's professional 
soccer team to look forward to, will not lose the opportunities that 
they have earned; and never take that away from them.
  Certainly in 1972 we seemed to discover here and in State 
legislatures that we have women constituents too. It would really 
behoove us not to forget that.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of House Resolution 41, congratulating the University of 
Portland women's soccer team for winning the 2002 NCAA Division I 
national championship. In addition to bringing home that trophy to the 
university, the Pilots fielded the first sophomore to be recognized as 
the Nation's top collegiate soccer player.
  How could we have gotten there? I believe the accomplishment of these 
women is especially poignant as the Bush administration considers 
making changes to title IX, the 1972 landmark legislation which bans 
discrimination against women and schools and which is responsible for 
unprecedented gains in the participation of women in sports.
  In the 30 years since the enactment of title IX, participation of 
girls in high school varsity teams has gone from one in 27 to one in 
three. Female participation in varsity collegiate sports has also risen 
to over 150,000, and we have already seen the gains that women have 
made in the Olympics. We have seen our United States athletes win in 
those Olympic games. Why? Because of title IX.
  Overall, as a direct result of title IX, we have made great strides. 
So why are we trying to stop that? Why are we trying to change title 
IX? We should not, because the progress that we make on the soccer 
field extends to other places, well beyond that playing field.
  Girls who play sports are 80 percent less likely to have unwanted 
pregnancies. They are three times more likely to stay in school and 92 
percent less likely to use drugs. So now is not the time to change 
title IX.
  High school girls continue to miss out on opportunities. There are 
1.1 million less athletic slots in high schools in the Nation for girls 
as compared to guys. College women receive less money, $133 million 
less spent on women's sports than on men's sports at the collegiate 
level.
  Instead of focusing on title IX, we should figure out how we divvy up 
the profits that come from some of our athletic teams to ensure that 
everybody gets the opportunity to be on the playing field if they want 
to be there.
  Again, congratulations to the University of Portland's women's soccer 
team, but remember that it is people like Patsy Mink who went ahead and 
fought for our rights and laid the groundwork so girls could play. 
Remember that and help us.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
  (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me the time 
and my friend from Georgia for helping bring this bill to the floor.
  I congratulate the women of the University of Portland on their 
outstanding achievement of winning the NCAA Division I soccer 
championship, and their achievement gives us pause to look backward at 
the world that their mothers lived in and forward to the world in which 
their daughters will live.
  The world in which the mothers of these outstanding champions lived 
frowned on the idea of young women playing sports. We did not fund it. 
We did not support it. We discouraged it in ways that not only failed 
to enrich the lives of little girls but failed to enrich the lives of 
their brothers and boy counterparts.
  When the mothers of these women were in high school and college, 
athletic opportunities for young women were the exception, not the 
rule. That changed because title IX was enacted over 3 decades ago, 
because women of vision like the late Patsy Mink stood here and made 
sure that it was enacted.
  We have not only the opportunity to congratulate the women of the 
University of Portland; we have the opportunity to protect this 
opportunity for

[[Page H353]]

their daughters as well. Because here we are again, over 3 decades 
later, and the basic premises of title IX are being questioned by some 
in this body and in this country.
  Make no mistake about it, Mr. Speaker, the obligation we have to our 
daughters is to make sure that the principle of title IX, which is 
equality of opportunity for men and women in sports, carries through 
into the future so that the daughters of these champions that we honor 
today will have equal or greater opportunities when compared to those 
shared by their mothers.
  These women are an inspiration to girls and young women across the 
country. Last week, a 10-year-old soccer player competing in a winter 
indoor soccer league scored three goals in two games. She is an 
outstanding young woman. I hope that one day she will stand in the 
shoes of these outstanding champions from Oregon. Her name is Jacquelyn 
Andrews. She is my daughter.
  So I say to Patsy Mink and I say to the women that we honor today, I 
thank them for the inspiration they have given the daughters of 
America. Let us live up to that inspiration and protect the legal 
principles of title IX.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I will just take a minute and close, if I can. The original purpose 
of this resolution is to commend an outstanding university in the 
Pacific Northwest. It is the women's soccer team that won the NCAA 
Division I championship, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote 
for that, and I support it.
  I also realize it is an opportunity to pontificate on title IX, and I 
am very proud of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and others 
who have acknowledged the achievements of this body long before I got 
here in providing access and opportunity to collegiate athletics to 
women at a time in which those were deprived.
  I think it is unfortunate to take a positive resolution like this, 
however, and speculate that a review 30 years later of title IX is an 
attack. In fact, if anything, because of the richness that title IX has 
brought to intercollegiate athletics, the benefits it has brought to 
athletics for women, the opportunities, as the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez) says, it was given to Olympic sports 
to raise America's participation and success in the Olympics is a 
foundation for it to be perfected and improved for the future, not 
attacked or demeaned.
  So I am not suspect of any commission reviewing any operation that 
after 30 years has proven to be successful and carried out its intended 
progress, and I am very happy to have had an opportunity to commend a 
group of young women who reached the highest achievement in their field 
in the United States of America, the Portland Pilots. I commend them, 
Clive Charles, their coach, my colleagues, and title IX.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, in this time of war, recession, and national 
tragedy, it is important for us to emphasize the positive and reflect 
on the great achievements and moments that we have shared in the past 
year. I rise today to honor the University of Portland's women's soccer 
team for its outstanding achievement in the intercollegiate 
championship.
  On December 8, 2002, the University of Portland women's soccer team 
captured its first collegiate national soccer championship. This 
achievement is even more special because it is also the first national 
championship in any sport for the University of Portland. Under the 
leadership of head coach, Clive Charles, the University of Portland 
Pilots, the tournament's number 8 seed, defeated seven nationally 
ranked opponents, including a 2-1 title game triumph over the reigning 
champion, Santa Clara University. The Pilots now hold the record as the 
lowest-seeded team to win the women's national championship in its 21 
year history.
  I applaud Coach Charles for the program he has helped build at the 
University of Portland. He has successfully built a nationally 
recognized collegiate soccer program, leading the University of 
Portland women's and men's teams to a collective 12 conference 
championships and 16 NCAA playoff berths, and producing players for the 
United States National and Olympic teams.
  But it is the players that I truly want to congratulate today. 
Cristin Shea, Betsy Barr, Imani Dorsey, Rebekah Patrick, Kristen Moore, 
Erin Misaki, Kristen Rogers, Wanda Rozwadowska, Emily Patterson, 
Christine Sinclair, Kelsy Hollenbeck, Lauren Orlandos, Jennifer Bosa, 
Valerie Fletcher, Lindsey Huie, Lauren Arase, Jessica Heller, Colleen 
Salisbury, and Kim Head have all dedicated numerous hours and much hard 
work ensuring their team's success. Their efforts paid off! In addition 
to this title, a number of players walked away with new records. 
Sophomore Christine Sinclair now holds or ties NCAA playoff records for 
goals and points in a game (3 goals, 1 assist vs. Richmond), goals in 
tournament (10), and points in a tournament (21). And Lauren Arase 
allowed just one goal in the 2002 playoffs, setting an NCAA record for 
playoff goals against average (0.16), allowing just one goal in six 
games.
  This team is a tribute to Oregon and to Portland. It is also a 
tribute to the long-term benefits of Title IX, which gives hope to this 
team and to the young women who are rising through the ranks of sports 
all across the playing fields of America. I congratulate the players on 
their stunning victory, and I wish them even more success in the years 
ahead!
  Ms. McCarthy of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support 
of H. Res. 41, to congratulate the University of Portland women's 
soccer team for winning the 2002 National Championship. Congratulations 
to the team and their coach for an amazing season.
  The University of Portland's Soccer Team is just another wonderful 
example of the success of Title IX.
  When I was growing up in New York, girls weren't given many 
opportunities to play league sports and were instead encourage to cheer 
the guys on or play a smaller version of their game, but certainly not 
to participate at the same competitive level as men.
  But in 1965 Patsy Mink came to Congress and she changed the education 
opportunities offered to women. She fought to bring equality to our 
colleges and universities and for the first time ever, girls were given 
the opportunity to play sports at the same level as boys.
  Mr. Speaker, if there ever was a successful federal program Title IX 
is it. Today, five time as many women play college sports, and an 
incredible 10 times as many play high school sports as in 1972 the year 
Title IX passed.
  From basketball to soccer, we have seen women sports programs 
flourish. I am truly proud of the soccer players in Oregon and I am 
thrilled to be a supporter of Title IX.
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, today we rise to congratulate the 
University of Portland women's soccer team and Coach Clive Charles, on 
their 2002 Division I national title. As a former coach of young women 
athletes in Oregon, I recognize the commitment to endless practice and 
debilitating repetition that winning requires.
  The University of Portland Pilots women, in addition to making the 
sacrifices necessary for victory, represent the competitiveness, 
resolve, and success that collegiate athletics exist to foster. I urge 
the recognition of their recent feats as evidence of the triumph of the 
American spirit through sporting achievement, as well as the positive 
influence of Title IX on American society.
  The Pilots' road to the national championship required them to defeat 
seven squads that held coveted national rankings, proof that their 
opponents were among the Nation's finest.
  Those seven wins serve as a testament to the Pilots' collective 
commitment to playing hard, even against competition of the highest 
caliber. Surely there is no greater evocation of the collegiate 
athletic spirit than the competitiveness exhibited by the University of 
Portland women in those hard-fought wins against well-respected 
opponents.
  After a solid regular season, the Portland women entered the 
championship playoff as an eighth-seeded longshot to earn the eight-
seeded longshot to earn the title. Nevertheless, they emerged as the 
lowest seeded team ever to win the tournament.
  The resolve necessary to prove rankings obsolete and critics wrong 
does not come without effort. In fact, many of us encourage our 
daughters and sons to participate in athletics with the express hope 
that they might develop a touch of that trait. With the University of 
Portland's women's soccer championship, we are reminded that resolve, 
the persistence in a goal despite exorbitant odds, is at least as 
important as size, talent, or experience. Undoubtedly, the Portland 
women have drawn on the strength and perseverence of their coach and 
leader, Clive Charles, whose battle with illness illustrates the 
victory over circumstance that we admire in collegiate athletics.
  Finally, in developing a national championship program, the 
University of Portland women's soccer team was animated by the desire 
to stack the building blocks of victory upon one another, to complete a 
project born of the architecture of accomplishment. A national title 
came to the University of Portland not through unprecedented fortuitous 
circumstance, but from the execution of a plan for success. 
Concentration on conference titles and tournament

[[Page H354]]

berths provided the women's soccer program a foundation of achievement 
on which it has placed a structure of greatness. In doing so, the 
Portland women have made the most important point about collegiate 
athletics.
  These women display the character built by extended effort, the 
satisfaction reaped by the tireless pursuit of a goal, and the success 
within reach of all who are given an opportunity.
  Let us also take this moment to remember that opportunity seized is 
dependent upon opportunity granted. Without Title IX, our discussion of 
women's soccer at the University of Portland might center on its lack 
of a team, rather than on its team's national championship. When women 
have the chance to compete in scholarship athletics at the collegiate 
level, we introduce into society a more competitive, balanced, and 
healthy universe of graduates.
  Title IX has extended the opportunity to compete to thousands who 
would not have had it otherwise. The University of Portland women 
attest to the potential of opportunities granted by Title IX.
  Again, I ask that we salute the 2002 National Champion University of 
Portland women's soccer team. May we look to them, now and in the 
future, as an exemplary symbol of what we hope to gain through our 
commitment to collegiate and scholastic athletics.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 41.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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