[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 103 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1223-E1224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2012

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the 40th 
anniversary of Title IX. This historic piece of legislation has had a 
profound and lasting impact on gender equity in this country. While 
many people associate Title IX with primarily promoting funding 
equality in collegiate athletics, its impact is much greater--affecting 
the role of women as leaders and role models in our society. Title IX 
of the Education Amendments in 1972 prohibited sex discrimination in 
education programs and activities receiving federal financial 
assistance. It is the cornerstone of federal statutes that require 
equal access to all areas of education for women. Title IX sent a 
message to young women across this country that their achievements were 
just as great as those of their male counterparts.
  The opportunity to succeed is an essential tenet of our American 
spirit; Title IX provides women with an opportunity to succeed in 
collegiate athletics and beyond. An entire generation of young women 
has seized this opportunity, as evidenced by their many achievements. 
In the past 40 years, women have excelled in all aspects of society. In 
law and government, we have seen the first female Speaker of the House, 
the first female Supreme Court Justice and the first female Secretary 
of State. In science and technology, we have seen the first female 
astronaut enter space and six female scientists receive Nobel Prizes. 
Title IX has helped lay the foundation for equal educational access for 
these achievements.
  In addition, Title IX has helped create a generation of young female 
athletes: in 1972, only 1 in 27 women participated in high school 
sports; now 1 in 3 participate. Sports can play a key role in a young 
person's successful growth and development. Young people who 
participate in sports are more likely to be goal-oriented, healthy, 
confident and ambitious. These athletes have lower teenage pregnancy 
rates, are less likely to commit crimes and are less likely to use 
drugs or alcohol. The dramatic increase in female sports participation 
is undoubtedly an important factor in women's success and advancement 
in the past 40 years.
  Women have come a long way since the 1970s, but considerable work 
remains. On average, a woman still earns only 77 cents for every dollar 
earned by a man across all occupations and levels of educational 
attainment. Further, women's rights to healthcare and prevention 
services are being challenged by courts and legislatures across this 
country. As policymakers, we must remember how long it has taken women 
to get to this point and must not allow gender equity to recede. We 
must continue to legislate with the spirit of equality and opportunity, 
as the Members of the 88th Congress did 40 years ago. I commend the 
many achievements that women have made since the passage of Title IX 
and look forward to seeing many more in the future.

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