[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 16040-16041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              CONGRATULATING THE U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 141, a resolution 
submitted earlier by Senator Snowe, Senator Reid, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 141) to congratulate the United 
     States Women's Soccer Team on winning the 1999 Women's World 
     Cup Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
along with Senators Reid, Murray, Mikulski, Collins, Landrieu, 
Feinstein, Boxer, Hutchison, and Lincoln honoring the U.S. Women's 
National Soccer Team for their outstanding performance and dramatic 
victory in winning the 1999 Women's World Cup. This is a resolution 
that I've worked on with Senator Reid, who spoke eloquently earlier in 
the week on the World Cup victory, and I want to thank him for his 
strong support for the team and its accomplishments.
  The U.S. Womens' National Soccer Team has got to be the single 
greatest sports story this year, and certainly of this decade. 
Capturing the hearts and the imagination of America with remarkable 
play and even higher levels of teamwork and good sportsmanship, the 
U.S. Women's Soccer Team has ushered in a new era in women's athletics.
  We are not just talking about talented athletes here--we're talking 
about role models who are driven to play by the thrill of victory and 
the excitement of competition. And perhaps therein lies the true appeal 
of this team--in a time when money and commercialism often seem to 
overwhelm the true spirit of sport, along comes these extraordinary 
women who restore our faith in the virtues of athletic competition and 
truly give us something to cheer about.
  Is it any wonder, then, that these women--as well as women from other 
nations who have come to the United States in search of World Cup 
glory--have been ``packing them in'' wherever they have played. Indeed, 
The Boston Globe reported that only the Pope has drawn more people to 
Giants Stadium in New Jersey, and all 65,080 seats at Soldier Field in 
Chicago were sold-out for the United States-Nigeria game--the largest 
crowd ever to see a soccer game at that venue.
  For the final, over 90,000 fans were on hand to see the national 
team's dramatic victory over China--a record for an all-women sporting 
event. Not only has women's soccer arrived, it's taken the nation by 
storm.
  From coast to coast, Americans tuned in to watch our team play world-
class soccer--and they weren't disappointed. In fact, it's estimated 
that about 40 million viewers watched all or part of that nail-biting 
final match. That's nearly double the rating for the men's World Cup 
final last year between Brazil and Italy, and bests even the average 
national ratings for the recent NBA finals between the New York Knicks 
and the San Antonio Spurs.
  Those of us who viewed the tournament were rewarded with victory 
after victory, as well as the joy of watching athletes who truly love 
to play. And if Saturday's real-life finale had instead been the ending 
to a Hollywood movie, it would have been panned for being utterly 
unbelievable. Who would have thought that after 120 minutes of 
regulation play, the score would still be tied at zero-zero, with 
penalty kicks the only thing standing between defeat and victory?
  Throughout all that time--with the nation watching, waiting, hoping, 
and anticipating, with 90,000 chanting fans hanging on every kick, 
every header, every pass, and every breakaway--our team never gave up 
or gave in. Goalkeeper Briana Scurry was nothing short of remarkable, 
robbing the Chinese team of a critical penalty kick. And at the end, 
when Brandi Chastain's shot came to rest at the back of the opposing 
team's net, it all paid off in one of those incredible sporting moments 
that will go down not only in the history of sports, but in the history 
of womens' struggles for recognition and equality.
  There is no question, Mr. President, that sports are just as 
important an activity for girls and women as they are for boys and men. 
Through sports, girls and women can experience a positive competitive 
spirit applicable to any aspect of life.
  They can truly learn how to ``take the ball and run with it'', not 
only on the playing fields, but in classrooms, boardrooms, and, yes, 
even the Committee rooms of Congress. Through athletics, girls and 
women can achieve a healthy body and a healthy mind. They gain the 
self-esteem to say ``give me the ball'' with the clock running out and 
the game on the line.
  You know, when I was growing up, girls and women did not have much 
opportunity to participate in competitive athletics. But the enactment 
of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 changed all that for 
good. Finally, with the passage of this landmark legislation, women 
would be afforded equitable opportunities to participate in high school 
and college athletics.
  And the results are indisputable. Since Title IX's enactment, women 
and girls across the nation have met the challenge of participating in 
competitive sports in record numbers. In the past 28 years, the number 
of college women participating in competitive athletics has gone from 
fewer than 32,000 to over 128,000 in 1997. Before Title IX, fewer than 
300,000 high school girls played competitive sports. As of 2 years ago, 
that number had climbed to almost 2.6 million.
  The U.S. Women's Soccer Team has not only underscored the 
achievements of Title IX, but has encouraged even more young women to 
get into the arena and onto the playing fields. You know, it used to be 
said that girls were made of ``sugar and spice and everything nice.'' 
Well, the U.S. Women's Soccer Team proved that there is room for being 
both ``nice'' and determined. There is room for being both a woman and 
a competitor.
  Indeed, it astounds me when I think of how far we have come since I 
introduced the original joint resolution of Congress establishing the 
very first National Girls and Women in Sports Day back in 1986. Where 
dreams of athletic glory were once almost the exclusive domain of boys, 
today--thanks in large part to out Women's National Soccer Team--girls 
now have aspirations of their own.
  Watching this team has inspired a whole generation of girls to 
believe that they can go as high and as far as their talent--and their 
drive--will take them. Indeed, I have no doubt that girls across 
America will be running around the soccer fields this summer

[[Page 16041]]

pretending to be Briana Scurry, Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, or whoever 
their particular heroine may be. Certainly, on this team, there are 
plenty from which to choose.
  The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is but one more example of how, 
when it comes to athletics, women are ``coming off the bench,'' as it 
were, and taking their rightful place on the fields, on the courts, in 
the schoolyards and in our stadiums. They prove, once again, that women 
are just as surefooted in cleats as they are in heels or whatever other 
shoes they decide to fill.
  In addition to commending the team for all they've done, I would like 
to take this opportunity to thank the organizers and sponsors of the 
entire event for the extraordinary job they did in making this 
tournament a success beyond anyone's wildest dreams. I have no doubt 
these past few weeks will have an impact on sports in America that will 
resonate for years.
  Again, let me just express my most sincere appreciation to each and 
every member of the U.S. Women's World Cup Team for making us so proud. 
They have honored their nation with their sportsmanship, and they have 
honored themselves with their commitment to each other and their 
dedication to excellence. Now it is our turn to honor them, and I am 
pleased to have my colleagues' support for this resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the resolution is agreed 
to, and the preamble is agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 141) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 141

       Whereas the Americans blanked Germany in the second half of 
     the quarter finals, before winning 3 to 2, shut out Brazil in 
     the semifinals, 2 to 0, and then stymied China for 120 
     minutes Saturday, July 10, 1999;
       Whereas the Americans, after playing the final match 
     through heat, exhaustion, and tension throughout regulation 
     play and two sudden-death 15-minute overtime periods, out-
     shot China 5-4 on penalty kicks;
       Whereas the Team has brought excitement and pride to the 
     United States with its outstanding play and selfless teamwork 
     throughout the entire World Cup tournament;
       Whereas the Americans inspired young women throughout the 
     country to participate in soccer and other competitive sports 
     that can enhance self-esteem and physical fitness;
       Whereas the Team has helped to highlight the importance and 
     positive results of title IX of the Education Amendments of 
     1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681), a law enacted to eliminate sex 
     discrimination in education in the United States and to 
     expand sports participation by girls and women;
       Whereas the Team became the first team representing a 
     country hosting the Women's World Cup tournament to win the 
     tournament;
       Whereas the popularity of the Team is evidenced by the 
     facts that more fans watched the United States defeat Denmark 
     in the World Cup opener held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey 
     on June 19, 1999, than have ever watched a Giants or Jets 
     National Football League game at that stadium, and over 
     90,000 people attended the final match in Pasadena, 
     California, the largest attendance ever for a sporting event 
     in which the only competitors were women;
       Whereas the United States becomes the first women's team to 
     simultaneously reign as both Olympic and World Cup champions;
       Whereas five Americans, forward Mia Hamm, midfielder 
     Michelle Akers, goalkeeper Briana Scurry, and defenders 
     Brandi Chastain and Carla Overbeck, were chosen for the elite 
     1999 Women's World Cup All-Star team;
       Whereas all the members of the 1999 U.S. women's World Cup 
     team--defenders Brandi Chastain, Christie Pearce, Lorrie 
     Fair, Joy Fawcett, Carla Overbeck, and Kate Sobrero; forwards 
     Danielle Fotopoulos, Mia Hamm, Shannon MacMillian, Cindy 
     Parlow, Kristine Lilly, and Tiffeny Milbrett; goalkeepers 
     Tracy Ducar, Briana Scurry, and Saskia Webber; and 
     midfielders Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy, Tiffany Roberts, 
     Tisha Venturini, and Sara Whalen; and coach Tony DiCicco--
     both on the playing field and on the practice field, 
     demonstrated their devotion to the team and played an 
     important part in the team's success;
       Whereas the Americans will now set their sights in 
     defending their Olympic title in Sydney 2000;
       Resolved, That the Senate congratulates the United States 
     Women's Soccer Team on winning the 1999 Women's World Cup 
     Championship.

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