12.12.22

Equal Pay for All Team USA Athletes One Step Closer as Cantwell-Championed Bill Passes Senate

Legislation ensures all Team USA athletes—regardless of gender—receive equal pay and benefits in global competition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, by unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed Sen. Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) bipartisan Equal Pay for Team USA Act, which would ensure equal compensation and benefits for all athletes representing the United States in the Olympics and in global amateur athletic competition, regardless of gender.

“The Equal Pay for Team USA Act requires the U.S. Olympic Committee and the governing bodies to provide the same pay, medical care, and coverage of expenses to U.S. athletes regardless of gender -- or risk decertification” Sen. Cantwell said. “By passing the bill out of the Senate, we’re sending a message to all the young girls who dream of a future in sports – you will get equal pay for your success. I will continue to push the House to get this finally passed into law.”

Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, introduced the bipartisan legislation with Sen. Capito (R-WV) in July 2021. The bill passed the Commerce Committee on June 22, 2022, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The bill now awaits passage in the House.

 The Equal Pay for Team USA Act applies to 50 different sports’ national governing bodies, and it requires the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to conduct oversight and the USOPC and national governing bodies to report on compliance with the legislation. Along with ensuring equal compensation for athletes, the bill would also require equal payment for medical care, travel, and expenses. 

Currently, men and women athletes can be, and in many cases are, paid differently for representing Team USA in the same sport. In 2019, when the world-champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) sued for equal pay, Sens. Cantwell and Capito teamed up to introduce a bipartisan bill that amplified the chorus of voices demanding equal pay for Team USA.

In September, Sen. Cantwell joined leaders of U.S. Soccer, USWNT, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) and Seattle OL Reign player Megan Rapinoe, for the signing of historic Collective Bargaining Agreements which guaranteed players of both the Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams receive equal pay for equal play. At the signing ceremony, Sen. Cantwell spoke on her effort to pass national legislation, saying, “We are going to use the power of this moment to get national legislation passed so that every young girl in every sport knows that we will have equal pay when it comes to sports in the United States of America. Let’s celebrate!”

“U.S. women have been at the forefront of the modern Olympic and Paralympic movements for more than 120 years. Female Olympians and Paralympians have trained, excelled, and inspired generations of girls. The Equal Pay for Team USA Act will build upon the USOPC’s established commitment to parity in its support of female and male athletes competing on behalf of the United States, and it will help America continue to lead in advancing equality and opportunity in international sport,” said Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

“At U.S. Soccer, we’re immensely proud of the work we did with our Women’s and Men’s National Teams to achieve equal pay. The U.S. Senate has sent a clear message that this is the standard for all national teams in all sports and it underscores the importance of working with our athletes to achieve equal pay including equalizing international prize money,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, President of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The Equal Pay for Team USA Act is supported by over 20 organizations, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, U.S. Soccer, and the National Women’s Law Center. A full list of supporting organizations is available HERE.

A media package including photos and videos of Sen. Cantwell with USWNT player Megan Rapinoe, as well as a video with Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Capito is available for use HERE.

###