[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      34TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise on this 
auspicious occasion to celebrate the 34th anniversary of Title IX--the 
landmark legislation to ensure equal access to sports opportunities for 
young men and women. At the outset, I commend and thank all of the men 
and women that have contributed to its success over the past 34 years--
empowering women to make responsible decisions and to contribute 
positively to society.
  Mr. Speaker, on this anniversary, I must express my concern over the 
Title IX loophole created by the Department of Education on March 17, 
2005. This loophole undermines this important civil rights legislation. 
Rather than continuing the mandate on institutions to maintain equality 
in men's and women's sports, the change shifted the burden to female 
students to show their interest in and entitlement to participation 
opportunities, effectively allowing schools to justify disparities in 
treatment. This loophole--which was established without notice or 
opportunity for public comment--is having a devastating impact on 
women's sports.
  Mr. Speaker, if the fabric of society is only as strong as the 
threads that hold it together, then surely the duty of government must 
be to reinforce those threads, not to pull them apart. Yet allowing 
colleges to gauge interest in women's sports based on a single e-mail 
survey does exactly that--it unravels the fabric. It sends the message 
to girls that the ability to play sports is somehow unnatural. No one 
questions a boy who wants to play soccer; no one asks him to fill out a 
survey. So why do girls have to jump over hurdles to enjoy the same 
activity? Hurdles must remain in track and field where they belong, not 
in civil rights legislation. That is exactly the battle Title IX was 
designed to end, and it did . . . until March 17, 2005.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1971, 1 in 27 high school girls participated in 
athletics. Now it's 1 in 3. The explosion in athletic opportunities 
open to young women has generated enormous interest. The ratings for 
the women's final at Wimbledon, the most watched women's sporting 
event, are generally the same as the men's. In 1996, it was the U.S. 
women's soccer and basketball teams that captured Olympic gold. 
Interest follows opportunity, not vice versa.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on this Congress to demonstrate our commitment to 
our Nation's young women. We know that playing sports improves self-
esteem, teamwork skills, and psychological well-being. We know that 82 
percent of executive businesswomen played organized sports after 
elementary school. What we don't know is why the current 
Administration, in light of overwhelming evidence touting the benefits 
of athletics, has made it easiest for colleges and high schools to 
shirk their responsibility to women.
  Mr. Speaker, this is why I, along with fellow members of the House of 
Representatives, are working to protect Title IX. In addition to urging 
the President to withdraw the new rules, I am an original sponsor of 
House Resolution 735 expressing that these changes are inconsistent 
with longstanding Department policies and fundamental principles of 
equality. I will continue to fight to address these inequalities that 
threaten to reverse 34 years of progress.

                          ____________________