117th Congress Accomplishments

Equal Pay for Team USA

January 24, 2023

 


“The Equal Pay for Team USA Act erases any ambiguity, setting the standard that – when it comes to pay, medical care, travel arrangements and reimbursement of expenses for players of the same sport – nothing short of equal is acceptable, regardless of gender.” - Sen. Cantwell

Men and women are in many cases paid differently for representing Team USA in the same sport.  For years there have been stories – from the women’s national teams in many sports being paid consistently less to women’s teams flying to games in coach seats while men’s teams sat in business class and waiting months for medical reimbursements.  

Why should women be paid less than men for representing the USA in global sports competitions?


In 2019, when the world-champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) sued for equal pay, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) teamed up to introduce a bill that amplified the chorus of voices demanding equal pay for Team USA. In 2022, Senators Cantwell and Capito, now joined by Senators Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Lummis (R-Wyo.), re-introduced their bipartisan Equal Pay for Team USA Act. The bill guarantees equal pay and benefits for all athletes who represent the United States in global athletic competitions, like the Olympics, Paralympics and the World Cup, regardless of gender.

On January 5, 2023, President Biden signed the Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2022 officially into law. The bill previously passed Committee with unanimous support on June 22, 2022, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. It passed the Senate with unanimous support on December 8, 2022, and passed the House by a vote of 350-59 on December 21, 2022. 

The 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 requires equal payment for medical care, travel, and expenses.
  • 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.


Read More About the Equal Pay for Team USA Act


Sen. Cantwell speaking at the U.S. Soccer Collective Bargaining Agreement signing at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. in September 2022


Sen. Cantwell and Labor Secretary Walsh shaking hands with USWNT player Megan Rapinoe

 
“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.”
– Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

"By sending this legislation to the President, both houses have 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. U.S. Soccer is excited to continue to lead on equal pay and we look forward to helping drive more progress in the future.”
- Cindy Parlow Cone, President of the U.S. Soccer Federation
 

Organizations Supporting the Equal Pay for Team USA Act:

Alliance of Social Workers in Sports
American Volleyball Coaches Association
Athlete Ally
Center for Sport, Peace & Society – University of Tennessee
Champion Women
Equality League
Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media
National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
National Organization for Women
National Women’s Law Center
Sports Fans Coalition
The Female Quotient
The Tucker Center – University of Minnesota
Trajectory Women
UltraViolet
UN Women
US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
US Soccer
US Squash
USA Curling
USA Volleyball
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports
Voice in Sport
Voice in Sport Foundation
Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Team
West Virginia University Women’s Soccer Team
Women Win
Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association
Women’s Sports Foundation
Wrestle Like a Girl