Title: Expressing the sense of Congress that female athletes be paid the same as their male counterparts and organizers of world-class competitions actively take part in combating the wage gap.
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that female athletes should be paid the same as their male counterparts and that organizers of world-class competitions should actively take part in combating the wage gap.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 29 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 29

Expressing the sense of Congress that female athletes be paid the same 
 as their male counterparts and organizers of world-class competitions 
             actively take part in combating the wage gap.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2019

   Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. 
 DeLauro, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Ms. Roybal-Allard) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that female athletes be paid the same 
 as their male counterparts and organizers of world-class competitions 
             actively take part in combating the wage gap.

Whereas Congress supports the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) filing 
        a Federal lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) for 
        ongoing Federation policies and practices as systemic gender 
        discrimination, including travel conditions, promotion of games, and 
        coaching and medical staff;
Whereas for the sake of honest, transparent and equitable competition, the 
        United States should be the leader in reform efforts and women's soccer 
        can be a key;
Whereas the USSF must elevate female soccer teams and female leaders to provide 
        opportunities for girls and women;
Whereas the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has a pay ceiling per player 
        of just $37,800;
Whereas that's compared to an average of more than $300,000 and a median of 
        about $100,000 for men's Major League Soccer;
Whereas each team in the NWSL has a salary cap of just $265,000--compared to 
        more than $3 million for men;
Whereas the USWNT, as international soccer players representing the Federation, 
        perform the same duties as the Men's National Team players, but spend 
        more time playing, practicing, traveling and participating in media 
        sessions;
Whereas the USWNT played 19 more times than the Men's National Team from 2015 to 
        2018;
Whereas the team is the most successful in international women's soccer, winning 
        3 Women's World Cup titles (including the first ever Women's World Cup 
        in 1991), 4 Olympic women's gold medals (including the first ever 
        Olympic women's soccer tournament in 1996), 8 CONCACAF Gold Cup wins, 
        and 10 Algarve Cups;
Whereas the USSF ``continually rejected'' the USWNT's request for equal pay and 
        in 2012 offered to compensate players only if they won games against 
        International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) ranked top 10 
        teams, but not for losing or tying matches, nor for beating teams 
        outside the top 10 of world rankings;
Whereas the lawsuit states that in 2016, a representative of the USSF said 
        ``market realities are such that the women do not deserve to be paid 
        equally to the men.'';
Whereas the USWNT is subject to matches on inferior surfaces at a rate far in 
        excess of that required of Men's National Team players; and
Whereas USSF arranged charter flights for the Men's National Team at least 17 
        times in 2017 but did not do so once for the women: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that female athletes should be paid 
the same as their male counterparts and organizers of world-class 
competitions actively take part in combating the wage gap.
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