[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20022-20023]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN ATHLETES AT THE 2004 SUMMER 
                                OLYMPICS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and its leaders, Congresswomen 
Shelley Moore Capito, Ginny Brown-Waite and Hilda L. Solis and myself, 
to honor the amazing achievements of the women athletes at the 2004 
Olympics in Athens, Greece. In particular, I want to celebrate the 
success of the United States Women's Soccer Team, who made us proud by 
winning a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, beating Brazil 2-1 in 
overtime, on August 26, 2004.
  I would especially like to recognize Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain, 
our honored guests for a Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues 
reception today, Tuesday, September 28, 2004, celebrating the 
accomplishments of female U.S. Olympic athletes. As Captain and 16-year 
veteran of the U.S. Women's National Team, Julie Foudy is one of the 
most influential athletes in the United States. Through the end of 
2003, she had started in 229 of the 239 games in which she appeared, 
including all six of the world championship events played by the U.S. 
women. And if that was not impressive enough, she scored in all four of 
the Women's World Cup tournaments. Her teammate, Brandi Chastain, 
another long-standing player on the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, provided 
one of the greatest moments in the history of sports with her penalty 
kick on the USA's fifth shot in the 1999 Women's World Cup Final at the 
Rose Bowl.

[[Page 20023]]

  These women have become some of the most famous athletic role models 
on earth. They have taught our children that if you work hard and you 
believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything. Indeed, these women 
are helping to fundamentally change perceptions about athletics. It is 
no surprise that our little girls look up to these strong, motivated 
women for inspiration. But to also see little boys wearing jerseys 
emblazoned with the names of their favorite women players is a 
wonderful sight. The accomplishments of this generation of women 
athletes demonstrates the profound impact that Title IX has had on 
increasing opportunities in sports for women and girls. Title IX, part 
of the Education Amendments of 1972 requiring that public schools and 
colleges provide equal educational and athletic opportunities for girls 
and women, has unquestionably been a tremendous success. The members of 
the U.S. Women's Soccer team have been tireless advocates for Title IX. 
Their efforts have helped the Women's Caucus and our male colleagues to 
preserve and strengthen this historic law.
  It is important for girls to have every opportunity to succeed, 
especially when it comes to athletics. That is why the leadership of 
the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues has introduced H.R. 4994, 
the High School Athletics Accountability Act. This bill will require 
schools to report to the Department of Education basic data on the 
number of female and male students in their athletic programs and the 
expenditures made for their sports teams. Currently high schools are 
not required to disclose any data on equity in sports, making it 
difficult for schools and parents to ensure fairness in athletics 
programs. Better information can help high schools and parents of 
schoolchildren foster fairness in athletic opportunities for girls and 
boys.
  As a testament to the power of these women, their fan appreciation 
tour, which kicks off in Rochester, on September 25, sold out all 
14,000 seats in just minutes. I have introduced a bill in Congress, H. 
Res. 373, which supports the re-establishment of the Women's United 
Soccer Association (WUSA). Hopefully, some day the WUSA will return, to 
give every amazing female soccer player the professional athletic 
opportunities in the United States they so deeply deserve.
  Thank you to all the women Olympic athletes for transforming the 
lives and attitudes of today's young women, and for those of 
generations to come. We all know that girls who compete in sports 
perform better in school, are physically healthier and have a stronger 
self-esteem. Our girls have learned that sweat is sexy, brawn is 
beautiful and a little dirt never hurt anyone. You have truly given us 
all a whole lot more to celebrate, work hard for and dream about.

                          ____________________