House of Representatives Passes Resolution Honoring Title IX

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-Haw.) introduced a resolution to honor Title IX and to acknowledge the need to continue working toward gender equity in education.

The official title of H.Res. 406 is: "Celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls."

Here is the text of H.R. 406, which was adopted on Monday, June 18:

RESOLUTION
Celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls.

Whereas 35 years ago, on June 23, 1972, the Education Amendments of 1972 containing title IX was signed into law by the President;

Whereas Representatives Patsy T. Mink and Edith Green led the successful fight in Congress to pass this legislation;

Whereas title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the administration of any education program receiving Federal financial assistance;

Whereas remarkable gains have been made to ensure equal opportunity for women and girls under the inspiration and mandate of title IX;

Whereas title IX serves as the nondiscrimination principle in education;

Whereas title IX has moved this Nation closer to the fulfillment of access and opportunities for women and girls in all aspects of life;

Whereas title IX has increased educational opportunities for women and girls, resulting in improved graduation rates, increased access to professional schools and nontraditional fields of study, and improved employment opportunities;

Whereas title IX has increased opportunities for women and girls in sports, leading to greater access to competitive sports, and building strong values such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, work ethic, self-sacrifice, pride in accomplishment, and strength of character;

Whereas on October 29, 2002, title IX was named the `Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act' in recognition of Representative Mink's heroic, visionary, and tireless leadership in developing and winning passage of title IX; and

Whereas 35 years of progress under title IX is widely acknowledged, but because women continue to earn less for work than men with the same educational background; sexual harassment remains pervasive in schools and on college campuses; women and girls face substantial barriers in pursuing high-wage fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math; and women and girls' sports teams do not receive an equal share of resources, including fewer recruiting and scholarship dollars at the college level; and athletic participation opportunities still lag behind those provided for men, there is still much work to be done if the promise of title IX is to be fulfilled: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives celebrates--

(1) the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all facets of education; and

(2) the magnificent accomplishments of women and girls in sports.

And here is the speech given by Rep. Hirono in support of the resolution:

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution celebrating the 35th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972. Thirty-five years ago, a college applicant could be denied admission simply because she was a woman.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 changed that. Led by the late Representatives Patsy T. Mink and Edith Green, Congress established a principle we often take for granted today--the prohibition of sex discrimination in any federally funded educational program. The results are astounding.

In 1972, only 9 percent of JDs were earned by women. Today women earn almost half of all law degrees. In fact, I am one of the many women able to go to law school because of Title IX. The story is similar for MDs and PhDs.

There are also, of course, the athletic opportunities. Here too, the change from 1972 to 2007 is astounding. Today, college athletic opportunities abound for young women. And the recent surge in women's professional sports teams could not have happened without the dramatic increase in women playing college sports.

These successes--both academic and athletic--are worth celebrating, as are the women who came before us here on the House floor as leaders of the Title IX movement. In 2002, after Representative Patsy T. Mink passed away, Chairman MILLER introduced a bill that named Title IX the ``Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.'' I have a picture of Patsy hanging in my office. She is an inspiration to me. And I know that if she were here today she would remind us that our work is not finished.

There are many problems still to be addressed. Women continue to face substantial barriers, especially in high wage fields such as science, technology, engineering and math. Sexual harassment remains pervasive in schools and on college campuses. Women and girls' sports teams still do not receive an equal share of resources.

Title IX is as necessary today as it was in 1972.

I am pleased to have over 100 original cosponsors on this bill, including Speaker PELOSI. I urge the rest of my colleagues to join me in celebrating Title IX's successes and in recognizing the work still to be done in our march toward equal educational opportunities.

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Many thanks to Rep. Hirono for so eloquently stating why Title IX continues to be so important today.