[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               H. RES. 137 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL R. McNULTY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2003

  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, one of our nation's most vital and 
successful programs for equal opportunity for women has been under 
review. Rod Paige, Secretary of Education, recently assembled a 
commission to investigate the effectiveness of title IX in the Civil 
Rights Act. The mandate of the ``Commission on opportunity in 
Athletics'' is to investigate ways to enforce title IX efficiently.
  The Commission has concluded its investigation and issued its 
findings. Secretary Paige said that all of the recommendations to which 
the Commissioners initially agreed would be treated as ``consensus'' 
recommendations. The minority report, filed by commissioners and former 
Olympians Donna de Varona and Julie Foudy, strongly disagree with two 
specific Commission recommendations, and express serious concerns about 
the others.
  The dissenting Commissioners strongly believe that many of the 
Commission's ``consensus'' recommendations are worded so ambiguously 
that they could be interpreted in such a way as to undermine equal 
participation opportunities and scholarship dollars for women, as well 
as other title IX protections. Without clarification, say these 
distinguished athletes, there is no true ``consensus'' within the 
Commission.
  I find it troubling, Mr. Speaker, that the minority report is not 
included in the Commissions report, thus excluding the serious 
objections raised by some during deliberation of the Commission. 
Secretary Paige submitted the majority report alone--without first 
discussing his decision with the Commission. Not surprisingly, a number 
of those on the panel have expressed their unease about the lack of a 
final meeting. They are concerned that areas of genuine consensus in 
the report have not been identified, and I certainly share their 
concerns.
  I am a long time supporter of title IX and the opportunities it 
creates for women. I am a cosponsor of H. Res. 137, a bipartisan 
resolution to maintain the integrity of title IX of the Civil Rights 
Act. This resolution sends the message that we are committed to 
protecting title IX, and that the fight to save title IX is not over.
  Over 70 percent of the country supports title IX in its current form. 
With such overwhelming support, we must recommit to enforcing the 
current standards. While gender equality in athletics still does not 
truly exist, we have taken great strides over the first 30 years since 
the enactment of title IX. Girls' high school athletic participation 
increased by 847 percent, and women's college athletic participation 
increased four fold. This progress was achieved even though two dollars 
are spent on men's collegiate sports programs for every dollar spent on 
women's collegiate sports programs.
  Title IX is a basic question of equality. Equality of opportunity 
should not be compromised. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 137.

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