NEW: Cicilline Recognizes 40th Anniversary of Title IX
Monday, June 25, 2012
U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) on Saturday called on all Americans to join in recognizing the enormous advances America’s women and girls have made in the 40 years since the bipartisan enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
“So many women and young girls in America now have access to equal opportunities at elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities, because Democrats and Republicans worked together to enact this important legislation,” said Cicilline. “Title IX demonstrates the significant progress our country can make when our leaders stop focusing on short-term political battles and start working on ways to best serve their constituents.”
Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal assistance, was a bipartisan achievement, passed by a Democratic-led Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Particularly known for its impact on collegiate athletics, Title IX has promoted equal opportunity and contributed to the athletic and educational achievement of hundreds of thousands of young women.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSince Title IX’s passage, the number of girls who compete in high school sports has grown ten-fold – from fewer than 300,000 in 1972 to more than three million today. Similarly, the number of young women who participate in college sports has grown six-fold – from fewer than 30,000 in 1972 to more than 190,000 today.
Title IX has also made it possible for women to pursue careers as lawyers, doctors, mechanics, and scientists by opening new opportunities to education. It is important in bolstering equal access to educational opportunities in a full range of academic subjects, including science, technology, engineering, and math; and also ensuring an academic environment free of sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and violence.
“The past few years have been marked by too much partisan strife and not enough cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, and passage of Title IX is a shining example of what can be achieved when partisanship and narrow self-interests are put aside,” added Cicilline. “It’s long past time for Washington to learn from examples like these and get back to work serving the people who sent them to Congress, especially when it comes to advancing equality of opportunity for women.”
