Senator Patty Murray's office issued the following:
Inspired by the tremendous achievements and outspoken activism of the U.S. Women’s National Team, the Athletics Fair Pay Act would help to ensure that Olympic and amateur athletes are paid equitably, regardless of gender
In addition to the bill, Senator Murray joined every woman in the Senate to invite the U.S. Women’s National Team to meet with them during their upcoming trip to the Capitol
Senator Murray:
“Not only did the U.S. Women’s National Team just dominate on the world
stage in front of millions of people, they also inspired an entire
generation of girls and boys to work hard, follow their dreams, and most
importantly—stand up for what’s right”
(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, Senator
Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate labor committee,
alongside Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), introduced the Athletics Fair Pay Act
to help close the gender pay gap in Olympic and amateur sports. Female
athletes, including the world champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer
Team, are still often paid far less than their male counterparts.
“Not only did the U.S. Women’s National Team
just dominate on the world stage in front of millions of people, they
also inspired an entire generation of girls and boys to work hard,
follow their dreams, and most importantly—stand up for what’s right,” said Senator Murray.
“I’m thrilled the best soccer team in the world is being given a hero’s
welcome home, but the only way to truly honor our National Team is to
pay them what they so clearly deserve: equal pay for their far more than
equal work. I’m proud to introduce this legislation and I’m going to
keep fighting to ensure every woman—on and off the field—is paid fairly
for her work.”
The U.S. women’s national team is the best
soccer team in the world, winning four World Cups, including the 2015
and 2019 World Cups, and four Olympic gold medals. The team has been
ranked number one in the world 10 of the past 11 years. Not only does
the women’s national team outperform the men’s national team on the
field, they also bring in more revenue. From 2016 to 2018, women’s games
generated $50.8 million in revenue compared to $49.9 million for the U.S. men’s national team, according to an audit of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s financial statements.
Despite all of this, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women’s team just 38 cents of every dollar
the men’s team makes. Earlier this year, the players on the U.S.
Women’s National Team filed a discrimination lawsuit against the U.S.
Soccer Federation, and many of the players, including Seattle Reign
stars Megan Rapinoe and Allie Long, have been vocal in their demands for
equal pay.
Additionally, Senator Murray introduced the Athletics Fair Pay Act in solidarity with their lawsuit, and also invited
the U.S. Women’s National Team to meet with a bipartisan group of all
25 women Senators during their upcoming visit to the Capitol. This is by
no means a new fight for Senator Murray, who also sent letters to the
U.S. Soccer Federation in March 2019 and June 2016 calling on them to provide equal pay to its athletes.
The pay gap is not unique to women’s soccer. In
2017, the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team received a pay raise
from its national governing body, USA Hockey, only after the team
threatened to boycott a major competition.
The bill updates the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act
to mandate that the national governing bodies for each Olympic sport
pay female athletes fairly and equitably. It also requires the national
governing bodies to provide annual reports to Congress on amateur
athlete pay to ensure they’re complying with their equal pay
obligations.
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