[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7906]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   ANNIVERSARY OF PASSAGE OF TITLE IX

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, 41 years ago, President Nixon signed the 
landmark Title IX legislation into law, giving girls and boys equal 
opportunities in sports. But what many people don't know is that there 
was a 5-foot, 2-inch Japanese American woman from Hawaii who was behind 
this law. While she may not have been a contender for the WNBA, she 
laid the groundwork for women to participate in sports at every level. 
She was a fierce fighter for equal treatment and rights for women and 
held the seat in Congress which I'm privileged to hold today.
  Congresswoman Patsy Mink led the way to create equal opportunities 
for women and girls with her landmark Title IX bill. She grew up 
wanting to be a doctor and was rejected from over a dozen medical 
schools in the 1940s simply for being a woman. She went on to attend 
law school and dedicated her life to battling the status quo.
  Title IX is a mere 37 words, but over the last 40 years it has made 
an incredible impact in the lives of young women around the country. 
Today girls can play basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, or even 
football. Patsy opened the door for these opportunities. Many young 
women have walked through this door, paving the way for great athletes 
everywhere.

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