[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 98 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6588-H6591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS 
   OF 1972 AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO CONTINUE PURSUING EDUCATIONAL 
                   OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 406) celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of 
the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink 
Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to 
continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and 
girls.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 406

       Whereas 35 years ago, on June 23, 1972, the Education 
     Amendments of 1972 containing title IX was signed into law by 
     the President;
       Whereas Representatives Patsy T. Mink and Edith Green led 
     the successful fight in Congress to pass this legislation;
       Whereas title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of 
     sex in the administration of any education program receiving 
     Federal financial assistance;
       Whereas remarkable gains have been made to ensure equal 
     opportunity for women and girls under the inspiration and 
     mandate of title IX;
       Whereas title IX serves as the nondiscrimination principle 
     in education;
       Whereas title IX has moved this Nation closer to the 
     fulfillment of access and opportunities for women and girls 
     in all aspects of life;
       Whereas title IX has increased educational opportunities 
     for women and girls, resulting in improved graduation rates, 
     increased access to professional schools and nontraditional 
     fields of study, and improved employment opportunities;
       Whereas title IX has increased opportunities for women and 
     girls in sports, leading to greater access to competitive 
     sports, and building strong values such as teamwork, 
     leadership, discipline, work ethic, self-sacrifice, pride in 
     accomplishment, and strength of character;
       Whereas on October 29, 2002, title IX was named the ``Patsy 
     Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act'' in 
     recognition of Representative Mink's heroic, visionary, and 
     tireless leadership in developing and winning passage of 
     title IX; and
       Whereas 35 years of progress under title IX is widely 
     acknowledged, but because women continue to earn less for 
     work than men with the same educational background; sexual 
     harassment remains pervasive in schools and on college 
     campuses; women and girls face substantial barriers in 
     pursuing high-wage fields such as science, technology, 
     engineering, and math; and women and girls' sports teams do 
     not receive an equal share of resources, including fewer 
     recruiting and scholarship dollars at the college level; and 
     athletic participation opportunities still lag behind those 
     provided for men, there is still much work to be done if the 
     promise of title IX is to be fulfilled: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives celebrates--
       (1) the accomplishments of title IX of the Education 
     Amendments of 1972, also known

[[Page H6589]]

     as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education 
     Act, in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all 
     facets of education; and
       (2) the magnificent accomplishments of women and girls in 
     sports.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of the resolution.
  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 Representative Patsy T. Mink, who 
had been denied admission to a medical school because of her sex, and 
Representative Edith Green, Congress established a principle we often 
take for granted today, the prohibition of sex discrimination in any 
federally funded educational program.
  Title IX requires that ``No person in the United States shall, on the 
basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits 
of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or 
activity receiving Federal assistance.''
  These 35 words over the last 35 years have had a profound impact, and 
the results are astounding. More women than ever now attend college, 
which means more women than ever go on to advanced degrees. In 1972 
only 9 percent of law degrees were earned by women. In the mid-1970s, 
when I attended law school, that number had improved. Women then had 
made up 15 percent of the graduating class. Today women earn almost 
half of all law degrees. The story is similar for medical degrees and 
Ph.D.s.
  This new generation of highly educated women has made a substantial 
impact on society. Expectations have changed. Girls expect to grow up 
and contribute to our country and the world in any way they want, as 
doctors, lawyers, CEOs, school principals, consultants, just to name a 
few careers previously underrepresented by women.
  Title IX also literally changed the face of athletic programs and 
colleges throughout the country. In fact, it is through athletics that 
title IX's impact has seeped into the public's consciousness. In 
athletics the change from 1972 to 2007 is astounding. Today, college 
athletic opportunities abound for young women. In the past three 
decades, title IX has led to a 450 percent increase in the rate of 
female participation in college sports and a more than 900 percent 
increase in participation at the high school level. And the recent 
surge in women's professional sports teams could not have happened 
without the dramatic increase in women playing college sports.
  The thousands of women athletes in basketball, volleyball, soccer, 
and other sports, where we can see them, root for them, and even play 
on the team with them, have had a huge impact. Young girls today take 
it for granted that they can play a sport and aspire to athletic 
scholarships to college. My own niece started playing volleyball in 
junior high, continued in high school, and is aiming for a volleyball 
scholarship to attend college. Women in my generation did not even 
consider this a possibility. Title IX opened the door to higher 
education for women in many ways, including through athletic 
scholarships.
  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 George Miller introduced a bill that named title 
IX the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.''
  This picture of Patsy hangs in my office. She was my friend and 
continues to be an inspiration to me. I am proud to represent the 
congressional district that Patsy represented for so long and so well. 
I know that if she were here today, she would remind us that our work 
is not done.
  There are many challenges still to be addressed. Women continue to 
face substantial barriers, especially in high-wage fields such as 
science, technology, engineering, and math. Women own less than 30 
percent of all U.S. firms. Women make up only a third of chief 
executive officers and less than 20 percent of engineers. Sexual 
harassment remains pervasive in schools and on college campuses. 
Women's and girls' sports teams still receive only 33 percent of 
recruiting dollars and 38 percent of athletic operating dollars.
  Title IX is as necessary today as it was in 1972.
  I am pleased that over 120 of my colleagues are cosponsors on this 
resolution, including Speaker Pelosi. I urge all of my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating title IX's successes and in recognizing the work 
still to be done in our march towards equal educational opportunities.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Resolution 406 is a resolution honoring the 35th 
anniversary of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. I would 
like to recognize my colleague Ms. Hirono for introducing this 
resolution. The Education and Labor Committee will continue to 
celebrate the 35th anniversary of this law with a hearing tomorrow on 
this subject before the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong 
Learning and Competitiveness.
  President Nixon signed title IX into law on June 23, 1972. The 
purpose of title IX was to eliminate discrimination based on gender in 
the education arena. While title IX applies to all areas of education, 
it is possibly best known for its role in sports. Thanks to this law, 
and perhaps more significantly from the growing interest in sports in 
this country, we have seen a dramatic increase in female athletes.
  This law is far from perfect. Institutions continue to struggle with 
how to comply with title IX, trying to balance the participation rates 
of men with those of women. We do not want institutions to build up 
female participation at the expense of men's teams at the schools.
  As I stated earlier, title IX is best known for its effect on sports. 
However, title IX does apply to all areas of education. In a time when 
we are continually talking about the need to educate America's students 
in the area of math and science, it is important that we also recognize 
the increasing numbers of female students pursuing careers in math and 
science. In 2004 the General Accounting Office issued a report on the 
participation of women in science. The report found that women's 
participation in the sciences increased substantially over the past 30 
years. However, there is always more that can be done. As Congress 
looks to reform current programs, we should ensure that the programs 
being reformed are to encourage all students to enter into the 
sciences, math, and especially history.
  The committee has no stated opposition to this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Utah for his remarks in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, in 
celebration of the accomplishments of title IX, the Patsy Takemoto Mink 
Equal Opportunity in Education Act. I would like to thank my friend and 
colleague from Hawaii, Ms. Mazie Hirono, for bringing this to the House 
floor this week as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of this landmark 
legislation.
  Title IX has forever changed the landscape of opportunity for women 
and girls. Since the enactment of title IX, the number of women 
participating in intercollegiate athletics has increased fivefold. The 
number of female high school athletes has grown by almost 900 percent. 
In 1972, just as title

[[Page H6590]]

IX was enacted, women earned merely 28 percent of the bachelor's 
degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics, better known as the STEM fields.

                              {time}  1500

  Today, women earn 49 percent of the bachelor's degrees in these 
fields.
  On a personal point of privilege, I am proud to say that my four 
daughters, who are considering STEM fields as their professional 
careers, are proud to see that we remember Patsy Mink.
  Despite these successes, we still have work to do to achieve the 
promises of full equality and freedom from discrimination that is at 
the heart of title IX. There are still gaps in support for women's 
athletics, gaps in participation in various disciplines in the STEM 
fields, and disparities in career and technical education programs. 
More critically, there is still much to be done to ensure that our 
educational institutions are free from sexual harassment.
  It was a privilege to have served on the Education Committee with 
Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii, the original author of title IX. I 
joined her on the Committee of Education and also on the House floor to 
defend title IX and its reauthorization, and I am pleased to say we 
won.
  It is up to us to honor her legacy and maintain the integrity of 
title IX, which simply 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.''
  As the father of four daughters, I reaffirm my commitment to title IX 
and the legacy of Patsy Mink today with this vote. I urge all my 
colleagues to support this resolution, H. Res. 406.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my freshman colleague from 
Hawaii for bringing this particular resolution. It is appropriate that 
she honors her predecessor, Congresswoman Mink, who did so much in this 
Hall. In passing this bill, she did some of the things that were 
similar to civil rights laws of the 1960s in a continuum, because 
discrimination, whether it be race or gender or national origin or 
sexual orientation, is wrong.
  There are barriers this country needs to tear down and present a 
level playing field and an opportunity for all to enjoy the benefits of 
America. It is what Dr. King did talk about when he looked forward to 
getting to the Promised Land. That's part of what the Promised Land 
was, is, and will be. And so I thank the gentlelady for bringing the 
resolution.
  I am going to take an opportunity here to make a mea culpa. Earlier, 
when I had to address the House on Stax Records, I forgot a few people. 
And one of the people I forgot was a women, Carla Thomas, who did ``Gee 
Whiz,'' and her father, Rufus Thomas, who did ``Walking the Dog.'' In 
music, many of the Stax Record people were men, they were the Staple 
Singers, but Carla Thomas was a great singer. And there are so many 
fields that have been opened up.
  When I looked at the statistics that were made available to me, 
before title IX only 9 percent of the graduates from medical school 
were women. In 2004, there were 46 percent. In law, 7 percent had J.D. 
degrees for women, now 49 percent. When you think about those numbers, 
and that was just 35 years ago, Mr. Speaker, it's amazing how far we've 
come from the discrimination that existed at that time because of 
gender and what Representative Mink and the United States Congress' 
work did. It shows what can be positive and good about government.
  There is a lot of good things that government can do and does do, and 
people forget that. If it weren't for civil rights pioneers, there 
would still be segregation. If it weren't for the work of the Congress 
in the middle 1960s, there would still be discrimination possibly in 
housing and public employment and other public facilities. And if it 
weren't for Congresswoman Mink, there would be discrimination against 
women. There is much good that comes. Forces within society help, but 
they propel people in government to act and take action that this 
Congress has seen has made America a greater place.
  So it is my honor to stand and support the passage of this resolution 
that celebrates the 35th anniversary of title IX. It tells us just how 
far we've come in 35 years, but how just 35 years ago there were these 
limits. And the fact is, it was only 87 years ago that women got the 
right to vote. Mr. Speaker, 87 years ago women could not vote in this 
country, but this Congress, through a passage of a constitutional 
amendment, passed eventually by Tennessee as the perfect 36th State, 
gave women the right to vote in this country. So we've come a long way, 
but we've got a long way to go. And it is an honor to participate in 
this 35th anniversary.
  I thank the gentlelady for giving me the time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity of 
sharing this time with the gentlelady from Hawaii on this particular 
bill that was sponsored by the gentlelady from California (Ms. Matsui).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back the balance of my time, 
I would just like to clarify that I am the original sponsor of this 
measure.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my colleagues to celebrate 
the 35th anniversary of title IX of the Higher Education Act, which 
assured a woman's right to educational equality. And I thank 
Congresswoman Hirono for bringing this resolution to the floor and for 
her leadership on this issue.
  By ending gender discrimination in all education programs, title IX 
has given women the chance to excel and to take their rightful place as 
leaders and achievers on campuses across the United States. No longer 
would young women find their educational options limited by years of 
engrained discrimination. Thanks to title IX, women can now prepare for 
their future--whether in the halls of power or corporate boardrooms--in 
the classrooms and on the playing fields of America's colleges and 
universities.
  Today also gives us the opportunity to honor our former colleague, 
friend, and champion for women's equality--Congresswoman Patsy Mink. As 
a member of the Education Committee in 1972, Congresswoman Mink helped 
craft title IX, and engineer its passage.
  The day that the title IX legislation came to the floor, 
Congresswoman Mink was called away on a family emergency. She knew it 
would be a close vote. And she was right. That time, the bill was 
defeated by only a single vote. But Patsy fought on. Through sheer 
force of will, Congresswoman Mink forced another vote, an uncommon 
occurrence made possible by a woman of uncommon strength. And that 
time, women won. Congress passed title IX.
  For her determination, the women of America will always owe a debt of 
gratitude to Congresswoman Patsy Mink.
  As a mother and a grandmother, I have seen firsthand the results of 
title IX. Some are more visible, like the growing number of girls on 
soccer fields and basketball courts, the women of the WNBA, or the 
famous victory of Mia Hamm and Team USA in the World Cup.
  Equally important, though less tangible, is the message that title IX 
sends to women and girls: Your education is crucial and your future is 
limitless.
  Young women today believe that they can do anything. And they can.
  For our children, we must continue to support this belief by 
fulfilling and sustaining the promise of title IX.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 406, celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education 
Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal 
Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue 
pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls.
  Title IX changed the way the United States educates its women and 
girls. It states that, ``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.'' This monumental 
legislation has had far-reaching effects on the women in this country. 
Title IX may be best known for its changes in athletics, but the 
academic world has been significantly changed as well. Since 1981, 
women have received more bachelor's degrees than men, and since 1986, 
women have received more master's degrees than men. None of this would 
have been possible without the hard work of Patsy Mink and Edith Green. 
Generations of women have and will benefit from the work of these 
women.
  I had the honor of serving with Patsy Mink for 12 years, representing 
the State of Hawaii

[[Page H6591]]

in the U.S. House of Representatives. She strove to ensure equality and 
fairness for all Americans. Through her work on title IX, she was able 
to accomplish just that for every American woman. The renaming of title 
IX to the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act honors 
her work and reminds us all of her dedication to equality.
  We should take this time to reflect on where we have come from and 
the progress we have made. Millions of women have access to the 
education to make their dreams come true, and that access was 
guaranteed 35 years ago by a woman who believed that we should all be 
able to better our lives.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 406, a 
resolution celebrating the accomplishments of Title IX. I would like to 
thank Congresswoman Hirono for introducing this legislation addressing 
what is an important issue for women's equality.
  Title IX requires that schools and colleges receiving Federal funds 
provide female students with athletic opportunities comparable to those 
of male students.
  But as critical as this is, we must all begin to realize that Title 
IX is about more than civil rights.
  For many young athletes, the scholarship opportunities afforded by 
Title IX might be the only way they can go to college. What is more, 
female athletes tend to graduate at higher rates, perform better in 
school, are less likely to use drugs and smoke, and have a more 
positive body image, more confidence, and better self-esteem than non-
athletes.
  As a direct result of Title IX, women's participation in 
intercollegiate sports has skyrocketed, proving that interest follows 
opportunity. In 1972, about 30,000 women played college sports. Today, 
that number has increased by more than 450 percent. Similarly, in 1972, 
about 200,000 girls participated in high school athletics. Today, that 
number has increased by more than 900 percent.
  It would be wrong of me to speak about Title IX without taking time 
to honor my dear friend and beloved colleague, Patsy Mink. In 1972, 
Patsy helped to enact Title IX and in honor of her valiant work, 
Congress renamed Title IX the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity 
in Education Act.'' She struggled for 30 years to protect educational 
equity for men and women, and if she were with us today, I am certain 
that she would be proud of our continued fight to promote equality for 
all young women around the country.
  While we celebrate how far we have come, we must also recognize that 
we still have a way to go. Women remain underrepresented in school 
sports, with men receiving 1.3 million more high school athletic 
opportunities and $148 million more athletic scholarship money each 
year.

  In the face of such realities, I am proud to join my colleagues to 
support this resolution, a statement of our determination to recommit 
ourselves to the causes of education, opportunity, and equality in our 
society.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 406.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________