Lynn C. Woolsey: “33 years ago, Title IX, written by our dear friend, Patsy Mink, became law. Title IX recognizes that only when all…”

“33 years ago, Title IX, written by our dear friend, Patsy Mink, became law. Title IX recognizes that only when all Americans have opportunity to reach their potential can our country reach its potential. Recently, the Bush administration said that if a school's women students do not respond to an e-mail from the school asking if they are interested in sports, then the school would be in compliance with Title IX. That is ridiculous. There are acceptable standards to measure compliance that are accurate and must be used. The lesson of Title IX is that interest flows from opportunity. That is why women's participation in sports has increased 800 percent in high school and 400 percent in college since 1972. Moreover, if we are going to make policy based on how many people ignore one of the dozens of e-mails in their in-box, we will be in huge trouble with Title IX. I hope that the President will heed the letter from the gentlewoman from California (Leader Pelosi), the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Miller), and myself and 140 other Members, and rescind this clarification. ____________________”