[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4099-S4100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1269. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to collect information 
from coeducational secondary schools on such schools' athletic 
programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr President, I rise to introduce the High School Data 
Transparency Act in celebration of the 39th Anniversary of Title IX. I 
am pleased to be joined again this year by my colleague from 
Washington, Senator Murray. Since the 108th Congress, we have 
introduced this bill to require that high schools, like their 
collegiate counterparts, disclose data on equity in sports, making it 
possible for student athletes and their parents to ensure fairness in 
their school's athletic programs.

[[Page S4100]]

  Since my first day in Washington in 1979, I have been a stalwart 
supporter of Title IX. And there should be no mistake what this 39 
year-old landmark civil rights law is all about, equal opportunity for 
both girls and boys to excel in athletics. Obviously, athletic 
participation supports physical health, but sports also impart benefits 
beyond the field of play.
  For girls who compete in sports, 50 percent are less likely to suffer 
depression and breast cancer . . . 80 percent are less likely to have a 
drug problem . . . and 92 percent are less likely to have an unwanted 
pregnancy. Athletic participation helps cultivate the kind of positive, 
competitive spirit that develops dedication, self-confidence, a sense 
of team spirit, and ultimate success later in life. So it is not 
surprising that, according to several studies, more than eight out of 
ten successful businesswomen played organized sports while growing up.
  To cite one example, Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO, Kraft Foods 
was quoted as saying, ``growing up, I was extremely athletic, and very 
competitive. I played four varsity sports in high school and went to 
Cornell because they had a fabulous women's athletic program, and the 
academics weren't bad either.''
  Without question, Title IX has been the driving factor in allowing 
thousands of women and girls the opportunity to benefit from 
intercollegiate and high school sports. Indeed, prior to Title IX, only 
1 in 27 high school girls, fewer than 300,000, played sports. Today, 
the number is more than 2.9 million . . . that is an increase of over 
900 percent. Moreover, our country is celebrating the achievements and 
being inspired by our female athletes now more than ever.
  Last fall, the University of California, Berkley celebrated the life 
of the late Jill Costello who served as an inspiration not only to her 
fellow teammates but to the thousands of girls who defy the odds every 
day. Jill participated on Cal's Women's Crew Team as their varsity 
coxswain despite being diagnosed with stage IV cancer with only nine 
months to live. Throughout her treatment she not only supported her 
friends, family and teammates but was supported by them. Despite 
battling for her life Jill led Cal to achieve second place at the NCAA 
national crew championship. Jill's story proves that the incredible 
mystical nature of team and friendship does exist.
  Earlier this year, the University of Connecticut's Women's Basketball 
Team furthered displayed women's progress in athletics. These women 
surpassed the University of California at Los Angeles men's basketball 
record of 88 consecutive wins achieving the longest winning streak of 
90 games. The impact of this accomplishment has yet to be fully 
realized but has surely raised the profile of not only women's 
basketball but also woman's athletics.
  Indeed, in my state of Maine, Bowdoin's women's varsity field hockey 
team has remarkably won Division III national championships in 3 of the 
last 4 years, putting Bowdoin and Maine on the women's field hockey 
map.
  So while we celebrate this remarkable progress, we cannot allow rest 
on our laurels. That is why I am so pleased to join with Senator Patty 
Murray, who has been a tireless advocate for women's sports, to 
reintroduce the High School Sports Data Collection Act of 2011.
  Our bill directs the Commissioner of the National Center for 
Education Statistics to collect information regarding participation in 
athletics broken down by gender; teams; race and ethnicity; and overall 
expenditures, including items like travel expenses, equipment and 
uniforms.
  These data are already reported, in most cases, to the state 
Departments of Education and should not pose any additional burden on 
the high schools. Further, to ensure public access to this vital 
information, our legislation would require high schools to post the 
data on the Department of Education's Web site and make this 
information available to students and the public upon request.
  For nearly 40 years, Title IX has opened doors by giving women and 
girls an equal opportunity to participate in student athletic programs. 
This bill will continue that tradition by allowing us to assess current 
opportunities for sports participation for young women, and correct any 
deficiencies.
  With this new information, we can ensure that young women all over 
the country have the chance not only to improve their athletic ability, 
but also to develop the qualities of teamwork, discipline, and self-
confidence that lead to success off the playing field. Soccer star, Mia 
Hamm, characterized it best when ``somewhere behind the athlete you've 
become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is 
a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back . . 
. play for her,'' and I am introducing this bill today for her as well.
                                 ______