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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 173 Introduced in House (IH)]

105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 173

Honoring the inaugural season of the United States women's professional 
                          basketball leagues.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 20, 1997

  Ms. Brown of Florida (for herself, Mr. Dellums, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. 
  Bonior, Mr. Adam Smith of Washington, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. 
Frost, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Hilliard, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Blumenauer, 
  Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Ms. 
 Woolsey, Mr. Filner, Mr. Barrett of Wisconsin, Mrs. Meek of Florida, 
and Ms. Christian-Green) submitted the following resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Honoring the inaugural season of the United States women's professional 
                          basketball leagues.

Whereas one in twenty-seven females participated in high school sports in 1970, 
        prior to the passage of title IX of the Higher Education Act;
Whereas one in three women now participate in high school sports;
Whereas female attendance at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 
        sports events has increased from 1,100,000 in 1982 to 4,200,000 in 1996;
Whereas the 1995-1996 NCAA student-athlete participation rate is the highest 
        ever, and is directly attributable to gains in women's sports, and to 
        title IX of the Higher Education Act;
Whereas 97 percent of NCAA active institutions sponsored a women's basketball 
        program, making women's basketball the most sponsored NCAA sport during 
        the 1995-1996 season;
Whereas there are more women's basketball sports programs than men's basketball 
        programs among NCAA active institutions;
Whereas women account for 38.2 percent of all NCAA student athletes;
Whereas women's athletics programs at NCAA member schools have increased in 
        participation, scholarship dollars, coaches' salaries and recruiting 
        expenditures over the past 5 years;
Whereas the average number of women athletes per school in the NCAA's Division I 
        increased from 112 to 130 over the past 5 years;
Whereas the 1997 Women's NCAA Division I Basketball Championship was the highest 
        rated and most watched women's sports event in cable television history;
Whereas the creation of the American Basketball League (ABL) and the Women's 
        National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a direct result of the success 
        of women's college basketball;
Whereas the establishment of the ABL and the WNBA is the fourth and fifth 
        attempts respectively to establish nationwide women's professional 
        basketball associations in American history;
Whereas the ABL completed its opening season March 11 and the WNBA began its 
        first season on June 21;
Whereas the professional women players deserve to perform here in the United 
        States instead of abroad in international leagues;
Whereas Team USA's female basketball team won the gold medal in the recent 
        Olympics, proving that America's female players are the best in 
        international competition;
Whereas 80 million women play basketball around the world, and basketball is the 
        most popular youth participation sport in the Nation for girls; and
Whereas the leagues will offer role models to young women and promote greater 
        female athleticism and equity for women's sports, continuing the 
        tradition of gender equity in sports first promoted through title IX of 
        the Higher Education Act: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the House of 
Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the American Basketball League (ABL) and 
        the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on their 
        inaugural seasons; and
            (2) recognizes the players, sponsors, owners, and fans of 
        the leagues' teams for their commitment to supporting women and 
        women's athletics.
                                 <all>
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