Athletics Fair Pay Act of 2019

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Athletics Fair Pay Act of 2019 with my colleague Senator Murray.

Women and girls have made great strides in sports. Before Title IX of the Civil Rights Act was passed 47 years ago, athletic programs for girls and young women were virtually nonexistent. Now, women are world class athletes and compete in a wide range of sports including soccer, basketball, hockey, and tennis.

In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a record 45 percent of the athletes competing at the games were women, and this year, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won a historic fourth FIFA Women's World Cup title. Despite the incredible advancements made by women in sports, female athletes are paid significantly less than their male counterparts and are given fewer opportunities to succeed.

Sports organizations in the United States still do not invest equally in girls' and women's athletics. This lack of investment means that many female athletes never reach their full potential. In addition, studies show that sports participation has a positive influence on girls' academic performance, employment opportunities, and their physical and mental health.

The inequities faced by female athletes were highlighted in a wage discrimination lawsuit recently filed by the U.S. Women's Soccer Team against their employer, the U.S. Soccer Federation.

In addition to winning four FIFA Women's World Cup titles, the Women's Soccer Team has won four Olympic gold medals and has been ranked number one by FIFA for 10 of the last 11 years. By contrast, the U.S. Men's Soccer Team failed to qualify for last year's World Cup and has not won an Olympic medal since 1904. Yet, according to the lawsuit filed by the Women's Team, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women an average of 38 cents on the dollar compared to the male players.

Unfortunately, the Women's Soccer Team is not alone. In 2017, the U.S. Women's Hockey Team received a pay raise from its national governing body, USA Hockey, only after the team threatened to boycott a major competition.

Prior to the boycott, USA Hockey did not pay female athletes at all in non-Olympic years and paid each just $6,000 in the year leading up to an Olympic games.

It is clear that we must do more to ensure that female athletes are paid equally and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. This legislation gets us closer to that goal.

This legislation updates the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to mandate that the national governing bodies chartered under the Ted

Stevens Act pay female amateur athletes fairly and equally.

This bill also requires national governing bodies to provide annual reports to Congress on amateur athlete pay. This new reporting requirement increases accountability and allows Congress to monitor whether the national governing bodies are complying with their equal pay obligations.

I am deeply disappointed that we still need this kind of legislation in 2019. I am hopeful that the Senate will take up, and pass, this important legislation and show its support for women around the country. As a United States Senator, I will continue fighting for fair pay and equality of treatment for all women, including our nation's athletes.

I thank the president, and I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Athletics Fair Pay Act of 2019 with my colleague Senator Murray.

Women and girls have made great strides in sports. Before Title IX of the Civil Rights Act was passed 47 years ago, athletic programs for girls and young women were virtually nonexistent. Now, women are world class athletes and compete in a wide range of sports including soccer, basketball, hockey, and tennis.

In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a record 45 percent of the athletes competing at the games were women, and this year, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won a historic fourth FIFA Women's World Cup title. Despite the incredible advancements made by women in sports, female athletes are paid significantly less than their male counterparts and are given fewer opportunities to succeed.

Sports organizations in the United States still do not invest equally in girls' and women's athletics. This lack of investment means that many female athletes never reach their full potential. In addition, studies show that sports participation has a positive influence on girls' academic performance, employment opportunities, and their physical and mental health.

The inequities faced by female athletes were highlighted in a wage discrimination lawsuit recently filed by the U.S. Women's Soccer Team against their employer, the U.S. Soccer Federation.

In addition to winning four FIFA Women's World Cup titles, the Women's Soccer Team has won four Olympic gold medals and has been ranked number one by FIFA for 10 of the last 11 years. By contrast, the U.S. Men's Soccer Team failed to qualify for last year's World Cup and has not won an Olympic medal since 1904. Yet, according to the lawsuit filed by the Women's Team, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women an average of 38 cents on the dollar compared to the male players.

Unfortunately, the Women's Soccer Team is not alone. In 2017, the U.S. Women's Hockey Team received a pay raise from its national governing body, USA Hockey, only after the team threatened to boycott a major competition.

Prior to the boycott, USA Hockey did not pay female athletes at all in non-Olympic years and paid each just $6,000 in the year leading up to an Olympic games.

It is clear that we must do more to ensure that female athletes are paid equally and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. This legislation gets us closer to that goal.

This legislation updates the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to mandate that the national governing bodies chartered under the Ted

Stevens Act pay female amateur athletes fairly and equally.

This bill also requires national governing bodies to provide annual reports to Congress on amateur athlete pay. This new reporting requirement increases accountability and allows Congress to monitor whether the national governing bodies are complying with their equal pay obligations.

I am deeply disappointed that we still need this kind of legislation in 2019. I am hopeful that the Senate will take up, and pass, this important legislation and show its support for women around the country. As a United States Senator, I will continue fighting for fair pay and equality of treatment for all women, including our nation's athletes.

I thank the president, and I yield the floor.