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“MARKING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3710-H3711 on June 19, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
MARKING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I missed the opportunity this afternoon to speak with my colleagues with regard to the celebration of title IX, its 30-year anniversary. I am pleased to stand in support of such a wonderful piece of legislation that gave young women all across this country an opportunity to step up, step out and be a part of a team and have the encouragement to win.
I am particularly very proud that in the city of Cleveland we have already hosted the NCAA women's volleyball championships and I am going to be chairing the NCAA women's basketball Final Four Championships in Cleveland in 2007. In addition, in 2004 in the city of Cleveland, we will be hosting the international children's games. This will be the first time these games will be hosted in the United States, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to host them right in the city of Cleveland.
We have learned over the years that having the opportunity to participate in sports has been a way that young men and young women have an opportunity to learn how to compete, what team building means, what it means to be a part of a group, what it means to win, what it means to cheer, what it means to be disciplined, what it means to have a chance to work out and then show what workout does once you have an opportunity to work with your team.
Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to have an opportunity to congratulate the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) as she celebrates with all of her colleagues and this Congress as we celebrate title IX.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, thirty years ago, Title IX of the Education Amendments was enacted. This legislation represents the very best of what we come here to do.
I am proud of Title IX. I am proud of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, on which it was modeled. I am proud of the legislation which followed: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
I am proud every time our federal government reaffirms its commitment to the offer extended to us and to every one of our constituents. It invites us to come to it for assistance, for the education of our children, for the healthcare for our families, for the financial security of our parents, for the clean air and water for us all, or to simply come, participate as a citizen of this nation, and when we come to it, we know that our gender, our race, our religion, and our beliefs will not affect the treatment we receive. We are equal; we will enjoy equity.
There have been times in our history when our government has put forth a lesser offer, or an offer not extended to all. There have been times when the offer was made only after fierce debates by this body. As we do not all agree now, we did not all agree at those times. The arguments that were made against equity then had been made before, and will probably be made again. We will fight them with a conviction embraced for the principles it represents, and guided by the knowledge of past arguments, fought and won.
The equitable educational opportunities our daughters receive because of Title IX have prepared them to fight with us. They will create the legislation of which we will all be proud. They have experienced less of the injustices experienced by their mothers before the enactment of Title IX. This is a victory, and one of which we should all be keenly aware.
Through Title IX, the federal government has made a promise to our daughters that they will not be discriminated against by it, or by any agency, organization, or institution that receives its support. Today we honor this promise, the work of all those who fought to establish it, and we recommit ourselves to its strengthening and its expansion.
Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation, which ensures that young women are given the same opportunities their male counterparts enjoy, both in academics and in athletics.
When this legislation was passed in 1972, over three and a half million boys were participating in high school athletics, while less than 900,000 girls did so. During the last school year, however, and after 30 years of Title IX, the number of girls has tripled, with over 2.7 million girls playing a high school sport. These statistics clearly demonstrate that Title IX has been enormously effective in bringing young women into sports.
However, there is still work to be done. Though female athletic participation has increased over 800% since the passage of Title IX, according to the Women's Sports Foundation, male athletes still receive 1.1 million more participation opportunities than their female counterparts.
Title IX states that, ``No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid.'' This mission is as important today as it was thirty years ago. Together, as parents, teachers, coaches and mentors, we should continue to stress the importance of Title IX, and recognize the great strides it has made in leveling the playing field, literally, for young women in this country.
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out in support of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. As we all know, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions from receiving federal funds. Title IX has been a crucial part of setting a standard of equal educational opportunity in this country.
Title IX aids in the disintegration of inequitable admissions policies, increases opportunities for women in nontraditional fields of study such as math and science, improves vocational education opportunities for women, reduces discrimination against pregnant students and teen mothers, protects female students from sexual harassment in our schools, and increases athletic opportunities for girls and women and has heightened the world's awareness of the importance of women's sports.
Even though this 30-year-old legislation has done so much good in this country, it is again under fire as a result of a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Education alleging that it is to blame for the elimination of some men's minor sports. The Department of Justice, fortunately, is seeking dismissal of the suit, but this case has revived discussions about gender equity and the impact of Title IX.
I stand today with my colleagues to reaffirm the necessity of Title IX and to celebrate its success over the past 30 years. May Title IX remain a reminder to us that our legislative system is created to protect the inherent and equal rights of all of our country's citizens, regardless of race, gender, or creed.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in commemorating the 30th anniversary of Title IX and I thank my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, for organizing this special order.
As a member of the Education Committee in 1972, Congresswoman Mink helped craft Title IX, and engineer its passage. The day that it came to the floor, she was called away because her daughter had been in an automobile accident. She knew the vote would be close--and in fact the bill lost by one vote. But Patsy, through sheer force of will, forced then-Speaker Carl Albert to do the unheard of--to bring the bill up on the floor again. That time it passed.
Thank you, Patsy, for your leadership and dedication and for leaving women and girls a lasting legacy of your commitment to equal opportunity for all. While Title IX is best known for participation of women in sports, its real purpose is much broader: to end gender discrimination in all education programs. I always say that the three most important issues facing Congress are our children, our children, and our children.
Education is the most dynamic investment we can make and will bring more funds into the Treasury than any tax incentive you can name. Educated students become knowledgeable, productive citizens who are able to compete in the information economy. Title IX ensures that the full range of education opportunity is available to all of our children. For 30 years, Title IX has taken down the ``No Girls Allowed'' signs from our schools' locker rooms, shop classes, and career counseling centers. Today, because of Title IX, we are also taking down the signs from corporate boardrooms.
While there is much to celebrate on this 30th anniversary, there is also important work to be done. Barriers still exist to keep women and girls from achieving their full potential. Technology education is one of those barriers. Technology is the driving force of our economy and the sector most in need of educated workers. According to the Department of Labor, nearly 75 percent of future jobs will require the use of computers. Yet less than 33 percent of participants in computer courses are girls.
Girls are five times less likely than boys to consider a technology-
related career path or plan to take postsecondary technology classes. We must use the power of Title IX to ensure girls are encouraged to participate in computer and technology programs that can broaden their options for the future. Before we can do that, however, we have to lay the basic infrastructure for technology educational for all our students. The first step toward preparing girls for the new economy is providing them with qualified teachers. Less than 2 percent of all computer/technology teachers today have a degree in computer science, and only 30 percent of teachers say they received any technology training.
Unfortunately, President Bush's budget eliminates the program that would help teachers effectively integrate technology into the classroom. As a mother of four adult daughters, I have seen the results of Title IX. Some are visible, like the growing number of girls on soccer fields and basketball courts. Equally important, though less tangible, is the message that Title IX sends to women and girls: Your education is crucial and your future is limitless.
Young women today believe they can do anything. And they can. We must continue to support this belief by fulfilling and sustaining the promise of Title IX.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally assisted education programs or activities. Since its passing, Title IX has been crucial in setting a standard of equal education opportunities. Women and girls today, tend to be better educated and enjoy many opportunities that far surpass those of previous generations.
In the past 30 years, the growing trend has been for most to equate Title IX with women in athletics. Women and girls' participation in sports has increased. By 2001 nearly 2.8 million girls participated in athletics, an increase of more than 847 percent from 1971. While the achievements of female athletes is impressive, the effects of the legislation have reached well beyond that of sports.
We have steadily seen an increase in women's enrollment in school, accessibility to funding for school, and women in fields of study generally dominated by their male counterparts. In 1971, only 18% of young women completed four or more years of college. By 2006, women are projected to earn 55% of all bachelor's degrees. Similarly, women have made significant progress in graduate and professional fields. In 1994, women earned 43% of all law school degrees, compared with 7% in 1972. And in 1999, women earned nearly 50% of all medical degrees; in 1972, only 9% of medical degrees were earned by women.
As a result of Title IX, women have the opportunity to grow and excel in areas once reserved only for men; creating a more prosperous and fruitful nation. Today we must celebrate the advancements women have made over the last 30 years as well as recognize that there is still more work to be done. Disparities in salaries continue to exist between men and women. We continue to see less women in administrative positions, hard sciences and we need to create additional opportunities for more women to enter the non-traditional fields of science and math.
Today we celebrate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972's pivotal role in expanding women's educational opportunities and applaud the progress women have made over the last 30 years. In recognizing and celebrating Title IX's importance in today's society, we are ensuring that equal educational opportunities continue to be afforded to women and women's roles in society continue to be strengthened and appreciated.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the women of American Samoa, who continue to excel because of Title IX. Growing numbers of Samoan women are furthering their education, both in American Samoa and in the United States. Many return home to contribute to the island community, while others remain in the U.S. as teachers, lawyers, professors, doctors and judges. Malo lava taumafai ia outou tama'ita'I Samoa i le la outou sogasoga ma le finafinau I le su'eina o le poto. E fia momoli atili ai le Fa'afetai tele I le porokolame o le Title IX mo le avanoa ua faia lea mo tama'ita'i Samoa.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Title IX, the Education Amendments of 1972. Thirty years ago, Title IX was proposed to prohibit sex discrimination in federally-
funded education programs. Since its enactment, Title IX has made a tremendous impact in bridging the gap between gender inequality in our educational system. Title IX has made improvements in the admission process, financial aid and scholarships allocation, educational programs and activities, health insurance benefits, marital status, athletics, and employment opportunities for women. Its extraordinary efforts have enriched the educational experience for women over the past 30 years.
In June 1997, the Department of Education attributed the rise in the level of education for women to Title IX. Its statistics are striking. In 1994, for example, about 63% of female high school graduates were enrolled in college, comparing to 43% in 1973. By 1994, about 38% of women received medical degrees comparing to the year in which Title IX was first introduced, in 1972, only 9% of medical degrees were awarded to women. In the same year that Title IX was enacted, about 7% of female students in law schools received a law degree. Whereas in 1994, about 43% of law degrees belong to women.
Title IX also helps lower the drop-out rates of women in school. It increases women's chances to enter what was once male-dominated fields such as math and sciences. It gives women more opportunities to complete post-secondary, graduate, and professional degrees. Furthermore, since its enactment, Title IX has increased athletic scholarships for women and thus expanded women's participation in athletics.
A Connecticut judge said in 1972: ``Athletic competition builds character in our boys. We do not need that kind of character in our girls.'' Today, athletic departments around the country are required to provide athletic opportunities for women and men proportionate to their enrollment. In addition, schools are required to foster programs that meet the interests of women. No longer is athletic competition just a man's world.
As the World Cup is taking place, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team for their recent accomplishment in the quarter final. And it is my hope that they bring home the Gold, just as the U.S. Women's National Team did in 1999.
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is consistently one of the best, if not the best in the world. There is no doubt in my mind that their success is due, in large part, to Title IX, which gave them the support, financial and otherwise, that were not available to them prior to the birth of Title IX.
Title IX and subsequent related legislation have played a tremendous role in improving the lives of women since its enactment in 1972. And I am confident it will continue to elevate the status of women in society in the years to come.
I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Title IX.
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