Murray Amendment to Address Inequality in School Sports Passes Senate

Murray: “…so many girls across the country have spent this week dreaming of, one day, being one of those women champions they saw on television last weekend. Let’s make sure they know Congress has their back”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), offered an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act, the bipartisan bill she worked on with Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to fix the broken No Child Left Behind law, to help close the opportunity gap between young men and women in school sports. Murray’s amendment would require schools to report on access and funding to shine a light on inequalities in school sports. The amendment passed the Senate by voice vote.

Key excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks prior to the vote:

“Over the weekend, we all cheered on the women’s national soccer team as they beat Japan 5 to 2, to win the World Cup. Their teamwork and the skills they displayed on the field were years in the making. Many of the players on the women’s national team developed their skills and a love for soccer while attending their public schools growing up. In fact, before midfielder Carli Lloyd shattered records in the World Cup finals on Sunday, she was the star of the Delran High School soccer team in New Jersey.”

“Unfortunately, M. President, not all young girls have the same opportunities as young boys do to participate in school sports. In our nation’s schools, all girls should have equal opportunities to pursue athletics – whether they just want to help their high school team have a winning season or whether they dream of one day playing in the World Cup finals. Today, I’m offering an amendment to help close the opportunity gap in sports between young men and women.”

“Today, more young women than ever are playing sports. But inequality still exists and girls don’t have the same opportunities to play sports as boys. In fact, if you added up all the missed opportunities, across the country, young women have 1.3 million fewer chances to play sports in high school, compared to boys. That’s according to the National Federation of High School Associations.”

“Under this amendment, schools would report on both access to girls’ organized sports and the funding for girls’ sports. For the first time, schools would need to show the public what they spend on travel expenses, equipment, and uniforms for both boy’s and girl’s sports teams. This information will help shine a light on the persistent inequalities in sports between men and women.” 

“…so many girls across the country have spent this week dreaming of, one day, being one of those women champions they saw on television last weekend. Let’s make sure they know Congress has their back.”

Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks prior to the vote:

“Thank you, M. President.

“Over the weekend, we all cheered on the women’s national soccer team as they beat Japan 5 to 2, to win the World Cup. Their teamwork and the skills they displayed on the field were years in the making.

“Many of the players on the women’s national team developed their skills and a love for soccer while attending their public schools growing up. In fact, before midfielder Carli Lloyd shattered records in the World Cup finals on Sunday, she was the star of the Delran High School soccer team in New Jersey.

“Unfortunately, M. President, not all young girls have the same opportunities as young boys do to participate in school sports. In our nation’s schools, all girls should have equal opportunities to pursue athletics – whether they just want to help their high school team have a winning season or whether they dream of one day playing in the World Cup finals.

“Today, I’m offering an amendment to help close the opportunity gap in sports between young men and women.

“M. President, in 1972, Congress passed what is known as Title Nine. That’s the law that bans discrimination in education on the basis of gender. This law applies to all educational opportunities, but it had a huge impact on opening opportunities for young women to play sports.

“For the first time, schools were required to provide equal opportunities to girls and boys to play organized sports. And they were required to provide equal benefits and services, like coaches, courts, and playing fields. 

“Title Nine has truly changed our country for the better—and the number of women and girls whose lives it touches is growing every single day.

“I’ve seen this first-hand, in my own family. When I went to school, the atmosphere was a lot different than it is today.

“Back then, I could participate in just a few sports—and it was simply unheard of for women athletes to receive athletic scholarships.

“Fifteen years later, it was amazing to watch my own daughter choose to play soccer, learning to be part of a team, cheering each other on, and learning how to be gracious in victory and defeat.

“The difference between my daughter's generation and my own could not be more stark.

“Today, more young women than ever are playing sports. But inequality still exists and girls don’t have the same opportunities to play sports as boys.

“In fact, if you added up all the missed opportunities, across the country, young women have 1.3 million fewer chances to play sports in high school, compared to boys. That’s according to the National Federation of High School Associations.

“The amendment I’m offering today will help ensure that schools report information about school sports in elementary, middle, and high schools. And I want to thank Senator Mikulski – who has been a champion for Title Nine – for working with me on it.

“Under this amendment, schools would report on both access to girls’ organized sports and the funding for girls’ sports. For the first time, schools would need to show the public what they spend on travel expenses, equipment, and uniforms for both boy’s and girl’s sports teams. This information will help shine a light on the persistent inequalities in sports between men and women.

“M. President, playing sports isn’t just good for a single sports season. It has a positive effect on and off the field. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, when young women play sports, they are more likely to have higher grades, and they are more likely to graduate from high school than non-athletes.

“And research also shows that girls who have opportunities to play sports have lower risk of obesity later in life, lower incidence of depression, and more positive body image than non-athletes.

“Congress can help ensure that girls all over the country have the chance not only to improve their athletic abilities, but also to develop valuable skills like teamwork, discipline, and self-confidence. Those skills lead to success on and off the playing field. And I urge my colleagues to vote for this important amendment.

“Let’s give young women and girls equal opportunity in sports.

“M. President—so many girls across the country have spent this week dreaming of, one day, being one of those women champions they saw on television last weekend. Let’s make sure they know Congress has their back.

“Thank you, M. President. I yield the floor.”