[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5064-S5065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, and Ms. Hirono):
  S. 2253. A bill to amend chapter 2205 of title 36, United States 
Code, to provide pay equity for amateur athletes and other personnel, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Even 
Playing Field Act of 2019. This legislation is an important step 
forward in ensuring that women in sports are treated with the respect 
and dignity they deserve.
  Female athletes, coaches, and trainers are consistently paid less 
than their male counterparts, subjected to subpar working conditions, 
and receive substantially less investment in their athletic programs. 
Simply put, the same opportunities and resources provided to men's 
teams are not provided

[[Page S5065]]

to women's teams. The inequities in women's sports recently came to 
light in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women's 
National Soccer Team against the U.S. Soccer Federation.
  Although the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team consistently 
outperforms the Men's Team--having won four FIFA Women's World Cup 
titles and four Olympic gold medals--the lawsuit alleges that the 
Women's Team is paid an average of 38 cents on the dollar compared to 
the men.
  The gender pay gap isn't limited to players, either. Jill Ellis, the 
coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, is paid less than half 
of what the Men's Team coaches are paid. This is despite the fact that 
the Men's Team failed to even qualify for the last World Cup.
  Unfortunately, the disparate treatment of women in sports is not 
limited to pay. Megan Rapinoe, a captain of the U.S. Women's National 
Soccer Team, said in a recent interview with CNN: ``It's really more 
about the investment in the game. Is the investment equal? We're 
talking marketing dollars and branding, investment in the youth, 
investment in the players, investment in the coaching staff. I don't 
think that that's there. I don't think that that's ever been there.''
  It is clear that we must do more to promote and protect women in 
sports. This legislation is a step towards that goal by making critical 
updates to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
  First, the bill would require the U.S. Olympic Committee to provide 
female athletes with wages, investment and working conditions equal to 
their male counterparts.
  Second, the bill would clarify that national governing bodies for 
amateur sports must provide investment, working conditions, wages and 
other compensation for amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, 
administrators and officials that is free from discrimination on the 
basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin.
  Third, the bill would further clarify that national governing bodies 
for amateur sports must provide equitable support and encouragement for 
participation by women in sports, including investment, working 
conditions, wages, and other compensation.
  Finally, the bill would mandate that national governing bodies submit 
regular reports to Congress on their compensation practices by race and 
gender. I hope my colleagues will consider and support this 
legislation.
  I thank the chair, and I yield the floor.
                                 ______