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”

Overwhelming House vote of 350-59 sends landmark legislation to the president

Following last night’s overwhelming 350-59 vote by the U.S. House, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), 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.” 

Sen. Cantwell addressed how oversight requirements will be implemented to ensure equal pay and benefits are carried out: “This law requires a detailed report from the USOPC and national governing bodies – like U.S. Soccer, or U.S. Squash or USA Volleyball – to be sent to Congress each year. So, we can help make sure that these women athletes get 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.”

WATCH Sen. Cantwell on the Senate floor after the House passage of the bill

Sen. Cantwell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

“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 their expenses that they had out of pocket…

In fact, for women athletes, they might not be sure if they’re even getting a fair shake at all.

It’s taken women athletes at the top of their game, stepping up and demanding their worth over and over, for women to be taken seriously in sports. I’m talking about the women of USA Hockey in 2017, and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in 2019 and many other athletes. 

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.

I’m happy to say that this Senate bill, S.2333, that already previously passed the Senate, just passed the House tonight 350-59. 

I’m happy because we need to make sure that there is equal pay for Team USA. And to make sure that U.S. national teams under the U.S. Olympic Committee comply with this Act. 

It ensures that athletes in the same sport will receive equal pay, benefits, and medical care, travel, and reimbursement expenses – regardless of gender.

It applies to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and also to all the national governing bodies which USOPC oversees. And basically, any athlete competing for Team USA on a world stage. It will make sure that they get and receive equal compensation to their fellow male athletes in their sports.

I want to thank my colleague, Senator Capito, for cosponsoring this legislation and helping to advocate for it for the last year and a half, and continuing to fight to make sure that we got this implemented into law. 

This law requires a detailed report from the USOPC and national governing bodies – like U.S. Soccer, or U.S. Squash, or USA Volleyball – to be sent to Congress each year. So, we can help make sure that these women athletes get equal pay. We want to get to the root of any issues in the future that hold anyone back from making sure that this law is implemented.  

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.  

It took a lot of hard work to make sure that this bill got into law. 

And I also want to thank my colleagues from the Committee who helped pass this legislation and Senators Klobuchar and Lummis, who also joined Senator Capito and I in advocating for this legislation. 

So, while I wish tonight there were solutions to the inequities that exist in professional leagues – like the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League – this is a huge, important step towards the economic empowerment of women athletes.

I also want to mention the hard work of my staff, Lucy Koch from the Commerce Committee, and many others on Senator Klobuchar’s staff and on the Commerce Committee who helped get this legislation over the goal line. 

This is a strong message to female athletes, not just in the State of Washington but across the United States: you deserve – and you now will have – equal pay.

And this is a win for Team USA!”

Download the video of Sen. Cantwell’s floor speech here.

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.

30 organizations support the Equal pay for Team USA Act, including the USOPC and U.S. Soccer.