[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4775-S4776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 2083. A bill to amend chapter 2205 of title 36, United States 
Code, to ensure pay equity for amateur athletes, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
Athletics Fair Pay Act of 2019 with my colleague Senator Murray.
  Women and girls have made great strides in sports. Before Title IX of 
the Civil Rights Act was passed 47 years ago, athletic programs for 
girls and young women were virtually nonexistent. Now, women are world 
class athletes and compete in a wide range of sports including soccer, 
basketball, hockey, and tennis.
  In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a record 45 percent of 
the athletes competing at the games were women, and this year, the U.S. 
Women's National Soccer Team won a historic fourth FIFA Women's World 
Cup title. Despite the incredible advancements made by women in sports, 
female athletes are paid significantly less than their male 
counterparts and are given fewer opportunities to succeed.
  Sports organizations in the United States still do not invest equally 
in girls' and women's athletics. This lack of investment means that 
many female athletes never reach their full potential. In addition, 
studies show that sports participation has a positive influence on 
girls' academic performance, employment opportunities, and their 
physical and mental health.
  The inequities faced by female athletes were highlighted in a wage 
discrimination lawsuit recently filed by the U.S. Women's Soccer Team 
against their employer, the U.S. Soccer Federation.
  In addition to winning four FIFA Women's World Cup titles, the 
Women's Soccer Team has won four Olympic gold medals and has been 
ranked number one by FIFA for 10 of the last 11 years. By contrast, the 
U.S. Men's Soccer Team failed to qualify for last year's World Cup and 
has not won an Olympic medal since 1904. Yet, according to the lawsuit 
filed by the Women's Team, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women an 
average of 38 cents on the dollar compared to the male players.
  Unfortunately, the Women's Soccer Team is not alone. In 2017, the 
U.S. Women's Hockey Team received a pay raise from its national 
governing body, USA Hockey, only after the team threatened to boycott a 
major competition.
  Prior to the boycott, USA Hockey did not pay female athletes at all 
in non-Olympic years and paid each just $6,000 in the year leading up 
to an Olympic games.
  It is clear that we must do more to ensure that female athletes are 
paid equally and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. 
This legislation gets us closer to that goal.
  This legislation updates the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports 
Act to mandate that the national governing bodies chartered under the 
Ted

[[Page S4776]]

Stevens Act pay female amateur athletes fairly and equally.
  This bill also requires national governing bodies to provide annual 
reports to Congress on amateur athlete pay. This new reporting 
requirement increases accountability and allows Congress to monitor 
whether the national governing bodies are complying with their equal 
pay obligations.
  I am deeply disappointed that we still need this kind of legislation 
in 2019. I am hopeful that the Senate will take up, and pass, this 
important legislation and show its support for women around the 
country. As a United States Senator, I will continue fighting for fair 
pay and equality of treatment for all women, including our nation's 
athletes.
  I thank the president, and I yield the floor.

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