[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10739-10740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  MARKING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I missed the 
opportunity this afternoon to speak with my colleagues with regard to 
the celebration of title IX, its 30-year anniversary. I am pleased to 
stand in support of such a wonderful piece of legislation that gave 
young women all across this country an opportunity to step up, step out 
and be a part of a team and have the encouragement to win.
  I am particularly very proud that in the city of Cleveland we have 
already hosted the NCAA women's volleyball championships and I am going 
to be chairing the NCAA women's basketball Final Four Championships in 
Cleveland in 2007. In addition, in 2004 in the city of Cleveland, we 
will be hosting the international children's games. This will be the 
first time these games will be hosted in the United States, and I am 
pleased to have an opportunity to host them right in the city of 
Cleveland.
  We have learned over the years that having the opportunity to 
participate in sports has been a way that young men and young women 
have an opportunity to learn how to compete, what team building means, 
what it means to be a part of a group, what it means to win, what it 
means to cheer, what it means to be disciplined, what it means to have 
a chance to work out and then show what workout does once you have an 
opportunity to work with your team.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to have an opportunity to congratulate 
the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) as she celebrates with all of 
her colleagues and this Congress as we celebrate title IX.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, thirty years ago, Title IX of 
the Education Amendments was enacted. This legislation represents the 
very best of what we come here to do.
  I am proud of Title IX. I am proud of Title VI of the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964, on which it was modeled. I am proud of the legislation 
which followed: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age 
Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title II of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990.
  I am proud every time our federal government reaffirms its commitment 
to the offer extended to us and to every one of our constituents. It 
invites us to come to it for assistance, for the education of our 
children, for the healthcare for our families, for the financial 
security of our parents, for the clean air and water for us all, or to 
simply come, participate as a citizen of this nation, and when we come 
to it, we know that our gender, our race, our religion, and our beliefs 
will not affect the treatment we receive. We are equal; we will enjoy 
equity.
  There have been times in our history when our government has put 
forth a lesser offer, or an offer not extended to all. There have been 
times when the offer was made only after fierce debates by this body. 
As we do not all agree now, we did not all agree at those times. The 
arguments that were made against equity then had been made before, and 
will probably be made again. We will fight them with a conviction 
embraced for the principles it represents, and guided by the knowledge 
of past arguments, fought and won.
  The equitable educational opportunities our daughters receive because 
of Title IX have prepared them to fight with us. They will create the 
legislation of which we will all be proud. They have experienced less 
of the injustices experienced by their mothers before the enactment of 
Title IX. This is a victory, and one of which we should all be keenly 
aware.
  Through Title IX, the federal government has made a promise to our 
daughters that they will not be discriminated against by it, or by any 
agency, organization, or institution that receives its support. Today 
we honor this promise, the work of all those who fought to establish 
it, and we recommit ourselves to its strengthening and its expansion.
  Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the thirtieth 
anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation, which ensures that 
young women are given the same opportunities their male counterparts 
enjoy, both in academics and in athletics.
  When this legislation was passed in 1972, over three and a half 
million boys were participating in high school athletics, while less 
than 900,000 girls did so. During the last school year, however, and 
after 30 years of Title IX, the number of girls has tripled, with over 
2.7 million girls playing a high school sport. These statistics clearly 
demonstrate that Title IX has been enormously effective in bringing 
young women into sports.
  However, there is still work to be done. Though female athletic 
participation has increased over 800% since the passage of Title IX, 
according to the Women's Sports Foundation, male athletes still receive 
1.1 million more participation opportunities than their female 
counterparts.
  Title IX states that, ``No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of 
sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be 
subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity 
receiving federal aid.'' This mission is as important today as it was 
thirty years ago. Together, as parents, teachers, coaches and mentors, 
we should continue to stress the importance of Title IX, and recognize 
the great strides it has made in leveling the playing field, literally, 
for young women in this country.
  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out in support of 
celebrating the 30th anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the 
Education Amendments of 1972. As we all know, Title IX prohibits sex 
discrimination in educational institutions from receiving federal 
funds. Title IX has been a crucial part of setting a standard of equal 
educational opportunity in this country.
  Title IX aids in the disintegration of inequitable admissions 
policies, increases opportunities for women in nontraditional fields of 
study such as math and science, improves vocational education 
opportunities for women, reduces discrimination against pregnant 
students and teen mothers, protects female students from sexual 
harassment in our schools, and increases athletic opportunities for 
girls and women and has heightened the world's awareness of the 
importance of women's sports.
  Even though this 30-year-old legislation has done so much good in 
this country, it is again under fire as a result of a lawsuit filed 
against the U.S. Department of Education alleging that it is to blame 
for the elimination of some men's minor sports. The Department of 
Justice, fortunately, is seeking dismissal of the suit, but this case 
has revived discussions about gender equity and the impact of Title IX.
  I stand today with my colleagues to reaffirm the necessity of Title 
IX and to celebrate its success over the past 30 years. May Title IX 
remain a reminder to us that our legislative system is created to 
protect the inherent and equal rights of all of our country's citizens, 
regardless of race, gender, or creed.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in commemorating 
the 30th anniversary of Title IX and I thank my distinguished 
colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, for organizing this special order.
  As a member of the Education Committee in 1972, Congresswoman Mink 
helped craft Title IX, and engineer its passage. The day that it came 
to the floor, she was called away because her daughter had been in an 
automobile accident. She knew the vote would be close--and in fact the 
bill lost by one vote. But Patsy, through sheer force of will, forced 
then-Speaker Carl Albert to do the unheard

[[Page 10740]]

of--to bring the bill up on the floor again. That time it passed.
  Thank you, Patsy, for your leadership and dedication and for leaving 
women and girls a lasting legacy of your commitment to equal 
opportunity for all. While Title IX is best known for participation of 
women in sports, its real purpose is much broader: to end gender 
discrimination in all education programs. I always say that the three 
most important issues facing Congress are our children, our children, 
and our children.
  Education is the most dynamic investment we can make and will bring 
more funds into the Treasury than any tax incentive you can name. 
Educated students become knowledgeable, productive citizens who are 
able to compete in the information economy. Title IX ensures that the 
full range of education opportunity is available to all of our 
children. For 30 years, Title IX has taken down the ``No Girls 
Allowed'' signs from our schools' locker rooms, shop classes, and 
career counseling centers. Today, because of Title IX, we are also 
taking down the signs from corporate boardrooms.
  While there is much to celebrate on this 30th anniversary, there is 
also important work to be done. Barriers still exist to keep women and 
girls from achieving their full potential. Technology education is one 
of those barriers. Technology is the driving force of our economy and 
the sector most in need of educated workers. According to the 
Department of Labor, nearly 75 percent of future jobs will require the 
use of computers. Yet less than 33 percent of participants in computer 
courses are girls.
  Girls are five times less likely than boys to consider a technology-
related career path or plan to take postsecondary technology classes. 
We must use the power of Title IX to ensure girls are encouraged to 
participate in computer and technology programs that can broaden their 
options for the future. Before we can do that, however, we have to lay 
the basic infrastructure for technology educational for all our 
students. The first step toward preparing girls for the new economy is 
providing them with qualified teachers. Less than 2 percent of all 
computer/technology teachers today have a degree in computer science, 
and only 30 percent of teachers say they received any technology 
training.
  Unfortunately, President Bush's budget eliminates the program that 
would help teachers effectively integrate technology into the 
classroom. As a mother of four adult daughters, I have seen the results 
of Title IX. Some are visible, like the growing number of girls on 
soccer fields and basketball courts. Equally important, though less 
tangible, is the message that Title IX sends to women and girls: Your 
education is crucial and your future is limitless.
  Young women today believe they can do anything. And they can. We must 
continue to support this belief by fulfilling and sustaining the 
promise of Title IX.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 30th anniversary of 
the passing of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which 
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally assisted 
education programs or activities. Since its passing, Title IX has been 
crucial in setting a standard of equal education opportunities. Women 
and girls today, tend to be better educated and enjoy many 
opportunities that far surpass those of previous generations.
  In the past 30 years, the growing trend has been for most to equate 
Title IX with women in athletics. Women and girls' participation in 
sports has increased. By 2001 nearly 2.8 million girls participated in 
athletics, an increase of more than 847 percent from 1971. While the 
achievements of female athletes is impressive, the effects of the 
legislation have reached well beyond that of sports.
  We have steadily seen an increase in women's enrollment in school, 
accessibility to funding for school, and women in fields of study 
generally dominated by their male counterparts. In 1971, only 18% of 
young women completed four or more years of college. By 2006, women are 
projected to earn 55% of all bachelor's degrees. Similarly, women have 
made significant progress in graduate and professional fields. In 1994, 
women earned 43% of all law school degrees, compared with 7% in 1972. 
And in 1999, women earned nearly 50% of all medical degrees; in 1972, 
only 9% of medical degrees were earned by women.
  As a result of Title IX, women have the opportunity to grow and excel 
in areas once reserved only for men; creating a more prosperous and 
fruitful nation. Today we must celebrate the advancements women have 
made over the last 30 years as well as recognize that there is still 
more work to be done. Disparities in salaries continue to exist between 
men and women. We continue to see less women in administrative 
positions, hard sciences and we need to create additional opportunities 
for more women to enter the non-traditional fields of science and math.
  Today we celebrate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972's 
pivotal role in expanding women's educational opportunities and applaud 
the progress women have made over the last 30 years. In recognizing and 
celebrating Title IX's importance in today's society, we are ensuring 
that equal educational opportunities continue to be afforded to women 
and women's roles in society continue to be strengthened and 
appreciated.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the women of 
American Samoa, who continue to excel because of Title IX. Growing 
numbers of Samoan women are furthering their education, both in 
American Samoa and in the United States. Many return home to contribute 
to the island community, while others remain in the U.S. as teachers, 
lawyers, professors, doctors and judges. Malo lava taumafai ia outou 
tama'ita'I Samoa i le la outou sogasoga ma le finafinau I le su'eina o 
le poto. E fia momoli atili ai le Fa'afetai tele I le porokolame o le 
Title IX mo le avanoa ua faia lea mo tama'ita'i Samoa.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th 
anniversary of Title IX, the Education Amendments of 1972. Thirty years 
ago, Title IX was proposed to prohibit sex discrimination in federally-
funded education programs. Since its enactment, Title IX has made a 
tremendous impact in bridging the gap between gender inequality in our 
educational system. Title IX has made improvements in the admission 
process, financial aid and scholarships allocation, educational 
programs and activities, health insurance benefits, marital status, 
athletics, and employment opportunities for women. Its extraordinary 
efforts have enriched the educational experience for women over the 
past 30 years.
  In June 1997, the Department of Education attributed the rise in the 
level of education for women to Title IX. Its statistics are striking. 
In 1994, for example, about 63% of female high school graduates were 
enrolled in college, comparing to 43% in 1973. By 1994, about 38% of 
women received medical degrees comparing to the year in which Title IX 
was first introduced, in 1972, only 9% of medical degrees were awarded 
to women. In the same year that Title IX was enacted, about 7% of 
female students in law schools received a law degree. Whereas in 1994, 
about 43% of law degrees belong to women.
  Title IX also helps lower the drop-out rates of women in school. It 
increases women's chances to enter what was once male-dominated fields 
such as math and sciences. It gives women more opportunities to 
complete post-secondary, graduate, and professional degrees. 
Furthermore, since its enactment, Title IX has increased athletic 
scholarships for women and thus expanded women's participation in 
athletics.
  A Connecticut judge said in 1972: ``Athletic competition builds 
character in our boys. We do not need that kind of character in our 
girls.'' Today, athletic departments around the country are required to 
provide athletic opportunities for women and men proportionate to their 
enrollment. In addition, schools are required to foster programs that 
meet the interests of women. No longer is athletic competition just a 
man's world.
  As the World Cup is taking place, I'd like to take this opportunity 
to congratulate the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team for their recent 
accomplishment in the quarter final. And it is my hope that they bring 
home the Gold, just as the U.S. Women's National Team did in 1999.
  The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is consistently one of the 
best, if not the best in the world. There is no doubt in my mind that 
their success is due, in large part, to Title IX, which gave them the 
support, financial and otherwise, that were not available to them prior 
to the birth of Title IX.
  Title IX and subsequent related legislation have played a tremendous 
role in improving the lives of women since its enactment in 1972. And I 
am confident it will continue to elevate the status of women in society 
in the years to come.
  I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the 30th anniversary 
of Title IX.

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