Women's World Cup and Equal Pay

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the United States Women's National Soccer Team on their World Cup victory in France.

For weeks, America's women's soccer team has captivated the imagination and the enthusiasm of not only America's soccer world, but much of that throughout the entire globe.

Their performance over the past few weeks leaves no doubt that they are the best team in the world, but their victory Sunday is a stinging reminder that members of the team are being paid much less than their male counterparts.

With four World Cup titles, four Olympic Gold Medals, and a long history of dominance, they are the most successful team in the history of women's soccer--more successful on the world stage than the United States men's, their counterparts.

And what we are really talking about here is an issue that has been out there for many years, and that is equal pay for equal work. The highest paid male soccer player makes $200,000 more than the highest paid female player.

Over the past 3 years, the women's team generated more revenue and higher TV ratings than their men's counterpart.

The gap is a stark reminder of the persistent and frustrating reality that women's sports are undervalued and their stars, simply, are underpaid. That is a fact.

But it is not just the playing field where the women's work is undervalued; it is also in the workforce. In the United States, women who work full-time still earn only 80 cents, on the average, for every dollar earned by a man. Today's wage gap robs women of over $400,000 over the course of their working lives.

So equal pay for equal work is really, I think, an incredible value that we must pursue in this Congress. It is the fair thing. It is the right thing to do.

In March, I joined my colleagues to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will give women tools they need to fight pay discrimination, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pay attention to the strong support for the bill and to ensure that, in fact, we follow up and get it to the President's desk.

Also, in March, the U.S. soccer team sued for equal pay, alleging gender discrimination, with the men's team supporting their efforts. This really goes back to title IX that was started decades ago to ensure that, in our collegiate sports, women could have the same access to the same sporting programs throughout our universities.

Now, this week, we are going to see parades in New York and in Los Angeles celebrating this great world championship, this victory. But shortly after the final whistle on Sunday solidified these women's efforts in history books, celebratory cheers in the crowd quickly erupted into chants of ``equal pay, equal pay,'' showing their support, as well, for which a groundswell, I believe, is developing.

It is time, therefore, that we end pay disparity on the playing field and in the workplace once and for all.

Congratulations to the United States Women's National Soccer Team. Go USA and equal pay. In Honor of Gene Haagenson

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to recognize and honor the career of Gene Haagenson on his retirement.

A successful television news reporter for four decades, Gene spent the past 27 years covering stories throughout my home in the San Joaquin Valley for KFSN TV, Channel 30. He had the pleasure of working with so many of us over the years.

An adept, smart reporter, he is known and respected for not only his fair reporting, hard-hitting questions, and the embodiment of a true professional, he did his homework. He knew what he was talking about.

Gene's professionalism, his commitment to fair and balanced reporting will be missed, but he leaves a robust foundation for future journalists to build upon. He is a mentor, and he is a teacher.

I wish him the very best with his family and his grandchildren in his new exciting phase of life.

But I will encourage him, as I have before, that he use all these skills that he has honed over the years and teach, teach in our colleges and universities, the future journalists of America, to ensure that we have a vibrant, fair, and free press that is the cornerstone of our democracy. Gene has a lot more to give, and I hope he does so.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Gene Haagenson for his achievements, his outstanding commitment to Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley, and to our country, for always--always-- standing for a free and fair press.

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