[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E422-E423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN SUPPORT OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2003

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction 
of a resolution in support of Title IX.
  In 1972, about 30,000 women played college sports. Today, that number 
has increased by more than 500 percent.
  In 1972, about 200,000 girls participated in high school athletics. 
Today, that number has increased by more than 800 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no coincidence that women and girls have more 
opportunity today than they did 30 years ago. It is not because they 
have more interest than they used to, and it is not because they have 
more ability than they used to. These increased opportunities are 
attributable to one law: Title IX.
  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the Federal law that 
prohibits sex discrimination in education. It states: ``No person in 
the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from 
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to 
discrimination under any education program or activity receiving 
Federal financial assistance.'' In essence, Title IX requires schools 
and colleges receiving Federal funds to give women and girls equal 
athletic opportunities, including athletic scholarships, equipment, 
coaching, and facilities, among other benefits.
  Unfortunately, Title IX has come under assault. Those who favor 
changing Title IX argue mistakenly that it has led to the disappearance 
of athletic opportunities for male athletes. While both sides of the 
debate over Title IX athletics policies agree that they should allow 
for gender parity and overall fairness in sports,

[[Page E423]]

the real question that begs to be answered is, ``What constitutes 
fairness?''
  For those who want to alter Title IX and how it has been implemented, 
fairness means that male athletes should have a monopoly over 
opportunities and resources for their programs, regardless of how 
under-funded or nonexistent similar programs for female athletes may 
be.
  For these challengers to Title IX, it is fair that while more women 
than men attend college, only 42 percent of all college athletes are 
women.
  For them, it is fair that females currently receive 1.1 million fewer 
(41 percent) opportunities at the high school level and 58,000 fewer 
(38 percent) opportunities at the college level than do their male 
counterparts.
  This ill-conceived notion of fairness that opponents of Title IX put 
forth justifies the fact that men currently receive $133 million (36 
percent) more than women in athletic scholarships. Division 1-A 
colleges and universities allocate on average 71 percent of their 
scholarship money for men's athletics, and their recruiting dollars for 
male athletes double those spent on female athletes.
  Not only do these opponents of Title IX feel that this is fair, but 
they oppose any efforts to salvage the progress that has been made. It 
bothers me deeply that opponents of Title IX say that male athletes are 
treated unfairly. Although 30 years of progress since Title IX have 
seen sports participation for males and females grow, female athletes 
are still not treated equitably.
  This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives 
that changes to Title IX athletics policies contradict the spirit of 
athletic equality and gender parity and should not be implemented. 
Title IX has been the dam that holds back gender discrimination in 
educational programs for 30 years, allowing millions of young women the 
opportunity to pursue goals of which their predecessors could only 
dream.
  I am standing here to defend the integrity of this landmark civil 
rights law because it is the right thing to do, but I also rise in 
honor of my dear friend and beloved colleague, Patsy Mink. In 1972, 
Patsy helped to enact Title IX. I know that she would be standing right 
beside me were she alive today. She struggled for 30 years to protect 
educational equity for men and women, and it is in memory of the legacy 
she left behind that we must not give up on the fight to preserve 
equality for women.
  Opponents of Title IX are trying to redefine what America sees as 
fair. As a consistent defender of gender equality and the protection of 
equal rights for all of our citizens, I am outraged by this particular 
brand of fairness. Patsy would have been outraged as well, and she 
would not have tolerated it. I hope all of my colleagues will join me, 
with our Republican and Democratic friends who support this 
legislation, as we all fight to preserve the integrity of this landmark 
law. Please cosponsor this resolution for the sake of Patsy Mink, for 
the sake of our Nation's girls, and for the sake of equality.

                          ____________________