[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, this week we celebrate the 40th 
anniversary of the passage of title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972. For over 40 years, this historic law has furthered gender 
equality in education and sports in schools so that young women, 
including my three daughters, Caroline, Halina, and Anne, who all play 
soccer, may enjoy the benefits that come along with sports 
participation.
  On October 29, 2002, title IX was renamed the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink 
Equal Opportunity in Education Act'' to honor the tireless 
determination and leadership of Congresswoman Mink of Hawaii in 
developing and passing title IX. If Congresswoman Mink was still with 
us today, I know she would be proud of the remarkable gains that have 
been made to ensure equal opportunity for women and girls in sports, 
education, and professionally.
  In my home State of Colorado, we are ahead of the curve with regards 
to opportunities for girls and women in sports. The U.S. Olympic 
Training Center, located in Colorado Springs, was created by an act of 
Congress in 1978, just a few years after title IX was passed. It is 
encouraging to know that women, like Gold Medal Winner Lindsey Vonn, 
now make up nearly half of all U.S. Olympians competing at the games--
representing more than 48 percent of the 2008 team. Jamie Derrieux, a 
senior at Grand Junction High School, was named to the 5A First-Team 
All-State team and will be playing basketball at the University of 
Northern Colorado this fall. The flagship all-girls charter school, 
GALS, Girls Athletic Leadership Schools, in Denver practices active 
learning that engages students in health and wellness activities in the 
belief that these are key contributing factors in optimizing academic 
achievement and self-development. The Colorado Women's Sports Fund 
Association works toward increasing the number of girls and women who 
participate in athletics and reducing and eliminating barriers that 
prevent participation.
  Studies show that participation in sports has a positive influence on 
the intellectual, physical and psychological health of girls and young 
women. By a 3-to-1 ratio, female athletes do better in school, do not 
drop out, and have a better chance to graduate from college. Sports 
participation is linked to lower rates of pregnancy in adolescent 
female athletes, and according to a study from the Oppenheimer/
MassMutual Financial Group, of 401 executive businesswomen surveyed, 82 
percent reported playing organized sports while growing up, including 
school teams, intramurals, and recreational leagues.
  Despite the vast improvements, inequalities and disparities still 
remain. According to the National Federation of State High School 
Associations, schools are still providing 1.3 million fewer chances for 
girls to play sports in high school than boys. These numbers have an 
even greater impact on Latinas and African-American young women. It is 
because of such disparities that I signed on to the Senate resolution 
put forth this week by Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Olympia 
Snowe of Maine to show my commitment to working toward a more equal 
future.
  We have work to do. Please join me in celebrating the 40th 
anniversary of title IX by supporting efforts to expand equality in 
sports participation and education for women and girls around the 
country.

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