Political Quotes

“As we wrestle with a way to save Medicare, I rise today to urge my colleagues to help me save college wrestling and other sports that have fallen victim to an intrusive Federal bureaucracy. In my home State of Illinois, four of the major State-funded universities have either dropped or threatened to drop wrestling as a varsity sport. These schools have been forced to consider these cuts because of a misinterpretation of title IX. The Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education has demanded that schools drop men sports, such as wrestling, soccer, and swimming, in order to achieve numerical proportionality with women sports. This is another example of what happens when good intentions turn into unintended consequences. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of title IX is not to limit opportunity. The purpose is to create even greater opportunity for all of our young athletes. As a former wrestling coach, I urge my colleagues to consider commonsense changes to title IX. Let us not allow Federal bureaucrats to pin down the hopes and dreams of millions of America's athletes.”