A resolution supporting the observation of "National Girls & Women in Sports Day" on February 1, 2023, to raise awareness of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 24 Supporting the observation of ‘‘National Girls & Women in Sports Day’’ on February 1, 2023, to raise awareness of and celebrate the achieve- ments of girls and women in sports. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 1, 2023 Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. HAS- SAN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. BALDWIN, and Ms. DUCKWORTH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Com- merce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Supporting the observation of ‘‘National Girls & Women in Sports Day’’ on February 1, 2023, to raise awareness of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. Whereas ‘‘National Girls & Women in Sports Day’’ began in 1987 as a day to recognize and acknowledge the success and progress of girls and women in sports; Whereas athletic participation helps develop self-discipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills, and opportu- nities for athletic participation should be available to all individuals; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 24 IS Whereas, because the people of the United States remain committed to protecting equality, it is imperative to elimi- nate the existing disparities between male and female youth athletic programs; Whereas the share of athletic participation opportunities of high school girls has increased more than sixfold since the enactment of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (referred to in this pre- amble as ‘‘title IX’’), but high school girls still experi- ence— (1) a lower share of athletic participation opportuni- ties than high school boys; and (2) a lower level of athletic participation opportuni- ties than high school boys enjoyed over 50 years ago; Whereas 60 percent of high school girls participate in a sport; Whereas female participation in college sports has nearly tri- pled since the enactment of title IX, but female college athletes still comprise only 44 percent of the total colle- giate athlete population, 30 percent of whom are White women and only 14 percent of whom are Black, Indige- nous, and People of Color (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘BIPOC’’) women; Whereas, in 1971, women coached 90 percent of collegiate women’s teams, but as of 2023, women coach only 41 percent of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (re- ferred to in this preamble as ‘‘NCAA’’) women’s teams and BIPOC women represent only 7 percent of head coaches; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 24 IS Whereas there is a need to restore women to those positions to ensure fair representation and provide role models for young female athletes; Whereas, for too long, the many achievements of women in sports have not received fair recognition; Whereas the long history of women in sports in the United States— (1) features many contributions made by female ath- letes that have enriched the national life of the United States; and (2) includes inspiring figures, such as Gertrude Ederle, Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Mildred Ella ‘‘Babe’’ Didrikson Zaharias, Mary Lou Retton, and Patty Berg, who overcame difficult obstacles in their own lives— (A) to advance participation by women in sports; and (B) to set positive examples for the generations of female athletes who continue to inspire people in the United States today; Whereas the United States must do all it can to break down the barriers of discrimination, inequality, and injustice in sports; Whereas girls and young women in minority communities are doubly disadvantaged because— (1) schools in minority communities have fewer ath- letic opportunities than schools in predominately White communities; and (2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in minority communities exacerbates the existing gender in- equity between girls and boys; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •SRES 24 IS Whereas the United States Women’s National Soccer Team has led the fight domestically and internationally for equal treatment and compensation for female athletes; Whereas the 4-time World Cup champion United States Women’s National Soccer Team will compete to win a historic third World Cup title in a row at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup; Whereas, with the recent enactment of laws such as the Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2022 (Public Law 117– 340), Congress has taken steps— (1) to ensure all athletes representing the United States in global competition receive equal pay and bene- fits regardless of gender; and (2) to represent to the world, and especially young girls, that everyone deserves equal pay and benefits; and Whereas, with increased participation by women and girls in sports, it is more important than ever to continue pro- tecting title IX and upload the mandate of the law of eq- uitable and fair treatment and more general principles of gender equity throughout the sport system: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the Senate supports— 1 (1) observing ‘‘National Girls & Women in 2 Sports Day’’ on February 1, 2023, to recognize— 3 (A) all women athletes who represent 4 schools, universities, and the United States in 5 their athletic pursuits; and 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •SRES 24 IS (B) the vital role that the people of the 1 United States have in empowering girls and 2 women in sports; 3 (2) marking the observation of National Girls & 4 Women in Sports Day with appropriate programs 5 and activities, including legislative efforts— 6 (A) to build on the success of the Equal 7 Pay for Team USA Act of 2022 (Public Law 8 117–340) and ensure equal pay for all female 9 athletes; and 10 (B) to protect and uphold title IX of the 11 Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 12 1681 et seq.) so that future generations of ath- 13 letes will not have to experience the inequitable 14 and unfair treatment that many athletes have 15 had to endure, and continue to endure, today; 16 and 17 (3) all ongoing efforts— 18 (A) to promote gender equity in sports, in- 19 cluding equal pay and equal access to athletic 20 opportunities for girls and women; and 21 (B) to support the commitment of the 22 United States to expanding athletic participa- 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 6 •SRES 24 IS tion for all girls and future generations of 1 women athletes. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR24.IS SR24 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB