III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 398 

Supporting the observation of ‘‘National Girls & Women in Sports Day’’ 

on February 7, 2018, to raise awareness of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2018 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. THUNE, Mr. NELSON, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. 

WARREN, and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the observation of ‘‘National Girls & Women 

in Sports Day’’ on February 7, 2018, to raise awareness 

of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women 

in sports. 

Whereas athletic participation helps develop self-discipline, 

initiative, confidence, and leadership skills, and opportunities for athletic participation should be available to all 

individuals; 

Whereas, because the people of the United States remain 

committed to protecting equality, it is imperative to eliminate the existing disparities between male and female 

youth athletic programs; 


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•SRES 398 ATS 

Whereas the share of athletic participation opportunities of 

high school girls has increased more than sixfold since 

the passage of title IX of the Education Amendments of 

1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘title IX’’), but high school girls still experience— 

(1) a lower share of athletic participation opportunities than high school boys; and 

(2) a lower level of athletic participation opportunities than high school boys enjoyed almost 50 years ago; 

Whereas female participation in college sports has nearly tripled since the passage of title IX, but female college athletes still only comprise 44 percent of the total collegiate 

athlete population; 

Whereas, in 1972, women coached more than 90 percent of 

collegiate women’s teams, but now women coach less than 

50 percent of all collegiate women teams, and there is a 

need to restore women to those positions to ensure fair 

representation and provide role models for young female 

athletes; 

Whereas the long history of women in sports in the United 

States— 

(1) features many contributions made by female athletes 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, and Patty Berg, who overcame difficult obstacles in their own lives to— 

(A) advance participation by women in sports; 

and 


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(B) 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 support the 

bonds built between all athletes to break down the barriers of discrimination, inequality, and injustice; 

Whereas girls and young women in minority communities are 

doubly disadvantaged because— 

(1) schools in minority communities overall have 

fewer athletic opportunities; and 

(2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in 

those communities are not evenly distributed between 

male and female students; 

Whereas, with the recent passage of bills such as the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport 

Authorization Act of 2017 (S. 534, 115th Congress), 

Congress has taken steps to— 

(1) protect female athletes from the crime of sexual 

abuse; and 

(2) empower athletes to report sexual abuse when it 

occurs; and 

Whereas, with the beginning of the 2018 Winter Olympics in 

South Korea, it is more important than ever to ensure 

the safety and well-being of athletes by protecting those 

athletes from the crime of sexual abuse, which has 

harmed so many young athletes within youth athletic organizations: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate supports— 

2 (1) observing ‘‘National Girls & Women in 

3 Sports Day’’ on February 7, 2018, to recognize— 


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1 (A) the female athletes who represent 

2 schools, universities, and the United States in 

3 their athletic pursuits; and 

4 (B) the vital role that the people of the 

5 United States have in empowering girls and 

6 women in sports; 

7 (2) marking the observation of National Girls & 

8 Women in Sports Day with appropriate programs 

9 and activities, including legislative efforts to protect 

10 young athletes from the crime of sexual abuse so 

11 that future generations of female athletes will not 

12 have to experience the pain that so many female ath13 letes have had to endure; and 

14 (3) all ongoing efforts to— 

15 (A) promote equality in sports and access 

16 to athletic opportunities for girls and women; 

17 and 

18 (B) support the commitment of the United 

19 States to expanding athletic participation for all 

20 girls and future generations of women athletes. 

Æ 


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