Anniversary of Title IX

ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 28, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2005

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the 33rd anniversary of the day Congress passed Title IX, in support of the landmark legislation that prohibited gender discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funds.

Title IX provides for equal opportunity for women and girls in areas related to access to higher education, athletics, career education, education for pregnant and parenting students, employment, learning environment, math and science education, sexual harassment, standardized testing, and technology.

Unfortunately, recent action by the Bush Administration and Secretary Spellings has threatened provisions providing for equal opportunities for girls and women in sports. This new interpretation of Title IX compliance now only requires that schools survey current female students regarding their interest in sports. A lack of response can be assumed a lack of interest. This process has several flaws, including the reliance on using only email as an effective tool for soliciting feedback on such an important law.

Unfortunately, because this interpretation was deemed a simple "clarification" by the Bush administration, there will be no public comment period, despite the serious concerns the public has raised regarding this change. This is not the first time the American people have raised concerns regarding this issue, nor is it the first time this Administration has tried to weaken Title IX.

In 2002, the Administration attempted to change this policy through the establishment of the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. The Commission made several negative recommendations that weakened the goals of Title IX, but significant public outcry prevented these misguided policy changes. Given this kind of public commitment to this issue, I am very concerned about the way in which this most recent "clarification" has happened-late on a Friday afternoon, without any consultation or time for feedback despite a clear history of interest in this issue.

Over the past 30 years, significant movements have ensured more opportunities for women and girls. In fact young women's participation in athletics has increased by 400 percent at the college level and by 800 percent in high schools. Title IX has provided opportunities for female I athletes; however, they continue to be shortchanged in terms of athletic scholarship opportunities, facilities, and other benefits and services. Women and girls receive only 41 percent of athletic opportunities today, despite the fact that they constitute more than half of student enrollments. Vigorous enforcement of Title IX, rather than the weakening of compliance measures, must be the goal of the Department of Education. This is a time to continue to ensure women and girls are offered equal athletic opportunities at all levels of their abilities.

Last month, I convened a roundtable discussion in my district with nearly 50 students, coaches, Title IX compliance officers, and athletic directors regarding the "clarification." They shared their stories about what sporting opportunities were like before Title IX compared to the opportunities girls and women have now, their commitment to Title IX, and their concerns regarding efforts to weaken it. In fact, some schools shared that because this particular measure of Title IX compliance is so weak in demonstrating equal opportunities, they do not plan to use it, but rather they will use other measures.

I am proud of the female athletes in Minnesota-not only for their accomplishments but for their willingness to stand up and ensure these opportunities remain for generations of women to come.

It is in their honor that I rise today in recognition of these women trailblazers in athletics and education to call on President Bush and Secretary Spellings to immediately withdraw this harmful "clarification" and to support efforts that strengthen, rather than weaken, Title IX.

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