[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E286-E287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2007

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to introduce 
the High School Athletics Accountability Act. As opportunities for 
girls and women to participate in sports and athletics have been made 
increasingly available, women's participation has grown exponentially. 
Nearly 2.6 million high school girls now participate in organized 
sports, as opposed to 294,015 in 1971 before Title IX was enacted. 
Athletic participation has brought with it confidence and camaraderie 
among young women, giving them memories and friends that will last a 
lifetime.
  Despite our progress, persistent attacks against equality for women's 
sports require that we continue to protect the rights our nation's 
young women deserve. Currently high schools are not required to 
disclose any data on equity in sports, making it difficult for high 
schools and parents to ensure fairness in their athletics programs. The 
High School Athletics Accountability Act requires that high schools 
report basic data on the number of female and male students in their 
athletic programs and the expenditures made for their sports teams. The 
data will help high schools improve opportunities for girls in sports, 
and thereby help high schools and parents of schoolchildren foster 
fairness in athletic opportunities for girls and boys. Ultimately 
better information will encourage greater participation of all students 
in athletics.
  Without information about how athletic opportunities and benefits are 
being allocated at the high school level, female students may be

[[Page E287]]

deprived of their chance to play sports. For many young women, sports 
are often their ticket to higher education. A survey conducted by the 
National Federation of State High School Associations indicates that 
female students receive 1.25 million fewer opportunities to play high 
school sports than do male students, which translate into many lost 
opportunities for athletic scholarships. Other studies show that 
student athletes tend to graduate at higher rates, perform better in 
school and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Women athletes 
also tend to have more confidence, better body image, and higher self-
esteem than female non-athletes--critical attributes that help them 
succeed throughout their lives. We must give our schools the tools they 
need to identify inequities in their programs so that current and 
future generations of women can enjoy the benefits of sports.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to help 
girls move toward equality in athletics at every level and in every 
community across the nation.

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