Title: A 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.
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
This resolution supports (1) observing National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 5, 2020, to recognize (1) the female athletes who represent schools, universities, and the United States in their athletic pursuits; and (2) the vital role that the people of the United States have in empowering girls and women in sports.
The resolution supports (1) marking the observation of such day with legislative efforts to ensure equal pay for female athletes and to protect young athletes from sexual abuse; and (2) efforts to promote equality in sports, including equal pay and equal access to athletic opportunities for girls and women, and to support the U.S. commitment to expanding athletic participation for all girls and future generations of women athletes.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 492 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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 eliminate 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--

    G    (A) to advance participation by women in sports; and

    G    (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 athletes within youth athletic organizations: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate supports--
            (1) observing ``National Girls & Women in Sports Day'' on 
        February 5, 2020, to recognize--
                    (A) the female athletes who represent schools, 
                universities, and the United States in their athletic 
                pursuits; and
                    (B) the vital role that the people of the United 
                States have in empowering girls and women in sports;
            (2) marking the observation of National Girls & Women in 
        Sports Day with appropriate programs and activities, including 
        legislative efforts--
                    (A) to ensure equal pay for female athletes; and
                    (B) to protect young athletes from the crime of 
                sexual abuse so that future generations of female 
                athletes will not have to experience the pain that so 
                many female athletes have had to endure; and
            (3) all ongoing efforts--
                    (A) to promote equality in sports, including equal 
                pay and equal access to athletic opportunities for 
                girls and women; and
                    (B) to support the commitment of the United States 
                to expanding athletic participation for all girls and 
                future generations of women athletes.
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