Historic Step for Women Athletes: Cantwell’s Equal Pay for Team USA Act Heads to President’s Desk
Cantwell: “U.S. Women’s Soccer led the charge after winning the World Cup and making it clear to everyone that women athletes deserve equal pay”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following last night’s overwhelming 350-59 vote by the U.S. House, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, took to the Senate floor to celebrate final passage of her bipartisan Equal Pay for Team USA Act. This landmark legislation ensures that all athletes who represent the United States in global competition – like the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics – receive equal pay and benefits – regardless of gender. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on December 8 and now heads to the President’s desk.
“When you watch U.S. athletes compete in the Olympics, and the Paralympics and in the World Cup, it probably doesn’t cross your mind that men and women – who play the same sport – may not get the same travel accommodations….or equal medical care…or still be waiting to be reimbursed for expenses that they had out of pocket,” Sen. Cantwell said on the Senate floor. “In fact, for women athletes, they might not be sure if they’re getting a fair shake at all.”
“It’s been 50 years since Title IX carved out a place for women and girls in sports. But still, women athletes frequently get less. That’s why we needed my bipartisan Equal Pay for Team USA Act, to build on the promise of Title IX for women competing at the international level,” Sen. Cantwell continued.
Sen. Cantwell thanked the women who led the charge in U.S. Soccer that inspired the momentum of this legislation so all Team USA sports can benefit from equal pay and benefits, saying: “I also want to thank heroes like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan who brought that case against U.S. Soccer. U.S. Women’s Soccer led the charge after winning the World Cup and making it clear to everyone that women athletes deserve equal pay.”
While this legislation addresses athletes representing the U.S. internationally, Sen. Cantwell said that inequities still exist in our professional leagues: “So, while I wish tonight there were solutions to inequities that exist in professional leagues – like the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League – this is still a huge, important step towards the economic empowerment of women athletes.”
The bipartisan S.2333 Equal Pay for Team USA Act requires that all athletes representing the United States in global athletic competitions receive equal compensation and benefits in their sport, regardless of gender. It also will require equal payment for medical care, travel and expenses.
The bill applies to 50 different sports’ national governing bodies, like U.S. Soccer and USA Volleyball, along with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). It also requires USOPC to conduct oversight and report on compliance with the legislation.
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!”
30 organizations support the Equal pay for Team USA Act, including the USOPC and U.S. Soccer.
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.
A full transcript of Senator Cantwell’s floor speech is available HERE, video HERE, and audio HERE.
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