[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             ACKNOWLEDGING THE 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2009

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 37th 
Anniversary of Title IX. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits 
gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs. 
Specifically this legislation was designed to create equality among the 
sexes in education, but this mandate has had an even greater impact on 
women's athletics. As a result, it has provided opportunities which 
were not previously available. While many gender barriers have been 
broken since Title IX's implementation, there are still many obstacles 
that young women face today.
  Many of Title IX's accomplishments stem from successes with 
collegiate level athletics. Unfortunately, elementary and high school 
girls are still not completely protected by the requirements of this 
legislation. Today we know that those young women are not receiving 
nearly as much funding as their male counterparts in sport related 
activities. Although there is still work to be done in regards to Title 
IX, a lot has changed since its inception. Before the law passed in 
1972, women consisted of just seven percent of all high school sports 
participants. Today over forty percent of high school athletes are 
females. In terms of collegiate academia and sports participation, well 
over half of all undergraduate college students are women. Women also 
outnumber men in graduate school and law school enrollment.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to acknowledge the 37th Anniversary of 
Title IX and all it has done to provide our young women with so many 
excellent opportunities. I will work diligently with my colleagues to 
protect the rights of women and ensure that gender discrimination 
becomes a remnant of the past.

                          ____________________