IV
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 follow-
ing 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;
•HRES 173 IH
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 in-
stitutions;
Whereas women account for 38.2 percent of all NCAA stu-
dent athletes;
Whereas women’s athletics programs at NCAA member
schools have increased in participation, scholarship dol-
lars, 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 col-
lege basketball;
Whereas the establishment of the ABL and the WNBA is the
fourth and fifth attempts respectively to establish nation-
wide women’s professional basketball associations in
American history;
•HRES 173 IH
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 inter-
national leagues;
Whereas Team USA’s female basketball team won the gold
medal in the recent Olympics, proving that America’s fe-
male 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 Basket-
ball 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.
Æ