[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE 
                                   IX

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2007

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
celebrating the 35th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Act 
Amendments of 1972. Thirty-five years ago, a college applicant could be 
denied admission simply because she was a woman.
  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 changed that. Led by the 
late Representatives Patsy T. Mink and Edith Green, Congress 
established a principle we often take for granted today--the 
prohibition of sex discrimination in any federally funded educational 
program. The results are astounding.
  In 1972, only 9 percent of JDs were earned by women. Today women earn 
almost half of all law degrees. In fact, I am one of the many women 
able to go to law school because of Title IX. The story is similar for 
MDs and PhDs.
  There are also, of course, the athletic opportunities. Here too, the 
change from 1972 to 2007 is astounding. Today, college athletic 
opportunities abound for young women. And the recent surge in women's 
professional sports teams could not have happened without the dramatic 
increase in women playing college sports.
  These successes--both academic and athletic--are worth celebrating, 
as are the women who came before us here on the House floor as leaders 
of the Title IX movement. In 2002, after Representative Patsy T. Mink 
passed away, Chairman Miller introduced a bill that named Title IX the 
``Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.'' I have a 
picture of Patsy hanging in my office. She is an inspiration to me. And 
I know that if she were here today she would remind us that our work is 
not finished.
  There are many problems still to be addressed. Women continue to face 
substantial barriers, especially in high wage fields such as science, 
technology, engineering and math. Sexual harassment remains pervasive 
in schools and on college campuses. Women and girls' sports teams still 
do not receive an equal share of resources.
  Title IX is as necessary today as it was in 1972.
  I am pleased to have over 100 original cosponsors on this bill, 
including Speaker Pelosi. I urge the rest of my colleagues to join me 
in celebrating Title IX's successes and in recognizing the work still 
to be done in our march toward equal educational opportunities.

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