[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S361-S362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 542--SUPPORTING THE OBSERVATION OF ``NATIONAL GIRLS & 
 WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY'' ON FEBRUARY 7, 2024, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF AND 
        CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS

  Ms. BUTLER (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Ms.

[[Page S362]]

Hirono, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Rosen, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 542

       Whereas ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' began in 
     1987 as a day to recognize and acknowledge the success and 
     progress of girls and women in sports;
       Whereas athletic participation helps develop self-
     discipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills, 
     and opportunities for athletic participation should be 
     available to all individuals;
       Whereas, because the people of the United States remain 
     committed to protecting equality, it is imperative to 
     eliminate the existing disparities between male and female 
     youth athletic programs;
       Whereas the share of athletic participation opportunities 
     of high school girls has increased more than sixfold since 
     the enactment of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 
     (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``title IX''), but high school girls still experience--
       (1) a lower share of athletic participation opportunities 
     than high school boys; and
       (2) a lower level of athletic participation opportunities 
     than high school boys enjoyed over 50 years ago;
       Whereas 60 percent of high school girls participate in a 
     sport;
       Whereas the share of women participating in college sports 
     has nearly tripled since the enactment of title IX, but 
     female college athletes still comprise only 44 percent of the 
     total collegiate athlete population, 30 percent of whom are 
     white women and only 14 percent of whom are Black, 
     Indigenous, and People of Color (referred to in this preamble 
     as ``BIPOC'') women;
       Whereas, in 1971, women coached 90 percent of collegiate 
     women's teams, but as of 2024, women coach only 41.2 percent 
     of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to 
     in this preamble as ``NCAA'') women's teams and BIPOC women 
     represent only 7 percent of head coaches;
       Whereas there is a need to restore women to those positions 
     to ensure fair representation and provide role models for 
     young female athletes;
       Whereas, for too long, the many achievements of women in 
     sports have not received fair recognition;
       Whereas the long history of women in sports in the United 
     States--
       (1) features many contributions made by female athletes 
     that have enriched the national life of the United States; 
     and
       (2) includes inspiring figures, such as Billie Jean King, 
     Flo Hyman, Gertrude Ederle, Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, 
     Mildred Ella ``Babe'' Didrikson Zaharias, Mary Lou Retton, 
     and Patty Berg, whose stories and adversity faced have helped 
     strengthen women sports by--
          (A) advancing participation by women in sports; and
          (B) setting positive examples for the generations of 
     female athletes who continue to inspire people in the United 
     States today;
       Whereas the United States must do all it can to break down 
     the barriers of discrimination, inequality, and injustice in 
     sports;
       Whereas girls and young women in minority communities are 
     doubly disadvantaged because--
       (1) schools in minority communities have fewer athletic 
     opportunities than schools in predominately White 
     communities; and
       (2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in 
     minority communities exacerbates the existing gender inequity 
     between girls and boys;
       Whereas the 4-time World Cup champion United States Women's 
     National Soccer Team has led the fight domestically and 
     internationally for equal treatment and compensation for 
     female athletes;
       Whereas United States women athletes will compete on the 
     world stage in 2024 at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics;
       Whereas, with the recent enactment of laws such as the 
     Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-340), 
     Congress has taken steps--
       (1) to ensure all athletes representing the United States 
     in global competition receive equal pay and benefits 
     regardless of gender; and
       (2) to represent to the world, and especially young girls, 
     that everyone deserves equal pay and benefits; and
       Whereas, with increased participation by women and girls in 
     sports, it is more important than ever to continue protecting 
     title IX and upload the mandate of the law of equitable and 
     fair treatment and more general principles of gender equity 
     throughout the sport system: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports--
       (1) observing ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' on 
     February 7, 2024, to recognize--
       (A) all women athletes who represent schools, universities, 
     and the United States in their athletic pursuits; and
       (B) the vital role that the people of the United States 
     have in empowering girls and women in sports;
       (2) marking the observation of National Girls & Women in 
     Sports Day with appropriate programs and activities, 
     including legislative efforts--
       (A) to build on the success of the Equal Pay for Team USA 
     Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-340) and ensure equal pay for all 
     female athletes; and
       (B) to protect and uphold title IX of the Education 
     Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) so that future 
     generations of athletes will not have to experience the 
     inequitable and unfair treatment that many athletes have had 
     to endure, and continue to endure, today; and
       (3) all ongoing efforts--
       (A) to promote gender equity in sports, including equal pay 
     and equal access to athletic opportunities for girls and 
     women; and
       (B) to support the commitment of the United States to 
     expanding athletic participation for all girls and future 
     generations of women athletes.

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