III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 492 

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

on February 5, 2020, to raise awareness of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2020 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. MCSALLY, 

Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. 

ROSEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. SINEMA, 

Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. 

LEAHY, Ms. SMITH, Ms. HASSAN, and Ms. WARREN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the observation of ‘‘National Girls & Women 

in Sports Day’’ on February 5, 2020, 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 elimiVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Feb 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR492.IS SR492

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 492 IS 

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 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 enactment 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— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 492 IS 

(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 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 have fewer athletic opportunities than schools in other communities; and 

(2) the limited resources for athletic opportunities in 

minority communities are not evenly distributed between 

male and female students; 

Whereas the 5-time World Cup champion United States 

Women’s National Soccer Team is leading the fight for 

equal pay for female athletes; 

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

Authorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–126; 132 

Stat. 318), Congress has taken steps— 

(1) to protect female athletes from the crime of sexual abuse; and 

(2) to empower athletes to report sexual abuse when 

it occurs; and 

Whereas, with increased participation by women and girls in 

sports, it is more important than ever to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes by protecting them from the 

crime of sexual abuse, which has harmed so many young 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 492 IS 

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 5, 2020, to recognize— 

4 (A) the female athletes who represent 

5 schools, universities, and the United States in 

6 their athletic pursuits; and 

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

8 United States have in empowering girls and 

9 women in sports; 

10 (2) marking the observation of National Girls & 

11 Women in Sports Day with appropriate programs 

12 and activities, including legislative efforts— 

13 (A) to ensure equal pay for female ath14 letes; and 

15 (B) to protect young athletes from the 

16 crime of sexual abuse so that future generations 

17 of female athletes will not have to experience 

18 the pain that so many female athletes have had 

19 to endure; and 

20 (3) all ongoing efforts— 

21 (A) to promote equality in sports, includ22 ing equal pay and equal access to athletic op23 portunities for girls and women; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 492 IS 

1 (B) to support the commitment of the 

2 United States to expanding athletic participa3 tion for all girls and future generations of 

4 women athletes. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS