[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 37th 
anniversary of Title IX. This landmark legislation prohibits sex 
discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive 
federal funding, and has expanded educational and career opportunities 
for countless young women and girls across the United States.
  This legislation is most famous for creating opportunities for women 
in athletics, but this legislation has done so much more. It is hard to 
imagine a time when women couldn't enroll in any college or university 
they wanted, had no chance of getting an athletic scholarship, and were 
steered away from classes in math and science in favor of home 
economics. But that was the United States before Title IX. This 
legislation works to address inequality and injustice in all areas of 
women's lives, from access to higher education, career training and 
advancement, and gender stereotyping and sexual harassment in schools, 
just to name a few.
  In large part due to Title IX, more women are receiving higher 
degrees than at any time in the past, more each year are entering 
traditionally male dominated fields, and hundreds of thousands of girls 
are living happier and healthier lives because they have the 
opportunity to be part of a sports team and have strong women role 
models to look up to.
  Yet despite the demonstrated positive impact of Title IX, opponents 
have tried to weaken this critical legislation. In 2005, the Department 
of Education issued a Title IX policy clarification that allows schools 
to use a less rigorous, e-mail based survey method to prove compliance. 
If enough young women simply deleted the mass e-mail, that was taken to 
mean that they were not interested in sports, and sports programs for 
girls could be cut. Men did not face the same burden, revealing a huge 
double standard while men's interest in sports was taken for granted, 
women's had to be proven.
  What these actions seem to imply is that Title IX's work is done. I 
have worked to protect and promote women's rights since my very first 
day in Congress, and I look forward to the time when there is complete 
gender equality in the United States. But that day is not today.
  While Title IX has undoubtedly opened doors for women faculty in 
higher education, women still make up just 36% of associate professors 
and 21% of full professors. Only 2.4% of full professors are women of 
color. Women only receive 20% of computer science and engineering-
related Bachelor's degrees, and a joint study by the National Academy 
of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of 
Medicine found that women who are interested in science and engineering 
careers are lost at every educational transition, and those who do 
enter these fields very likely to face severe discrimination throughout 
their careers.
  The Obama Administration has already made an admirable start in 
tackling barriers to women's success by promoting work-family balance, 
establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls, and signing 
into law the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Strengthening Title IX 
enforcement at the Department of Education would bolster the progress 
that has already been made in advancing women's rights, while helping 
to address the inequalities that remain in so many areas.
  Those of us with daughters will probably remember promising them that 
they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. Title IX works 
to make this a reality. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
the 37th anniversary of Title IX and acknowledging the essential role 
it has played in expanding opportunities for women and girls in the 
United States.

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