Team,

Last night, I had the privilege of welcoming two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and Gotham FC star Kelley O’Hara as my guest at the State of the Union. Kelley is a role model both on and off the soccer field as a leader in the fight for women’s equality. She is harnessing the power of this historic moment and turning it into a movement for future generations. 

I invited Kelley as my guest to send a clear message to Congress and the country: The age of women sitting silently on the bench is over. 

Recently, Kelley was a key member of the U.S. Women’s National Team Players’ Association bargaining committee, which successfully negotiated equal pay for the USWNT. I am proud to have fought for the Equal Pay for Team USA Act on the floor of the House and was thrilled that President Biden signed it into law.

There is so much more work to do to ensure fairness in sports. Two years ago, we all saw the unacceptable conditions at the Women’s Basketball Final Four. Players were barely given adequate facilities, food, or even exercise equipment. Frankly, I was outraged.

It is incumbent upon the NCAA to abide by the spirit of Title IX, and I am committed to making sure it lives up to its promise. 

Last Congress, I introduced a resolution emphasizing that the NCAA is subject to Title IX and must work to eliminate any inequities that exist between men’s and women’s programming. I will introduce this resolution again and continue working with the NCAA to bolster the protections ensured by Title IX.

Additionally, I plan to introduce legislation to conduct an in-depth study of gender equality across all NCAA-sanctioned sports in all three divisions. 

I am so grateful to have a leader like Kelly O’Hara on my team to fight for women’s equality. I will continue working with athletes, coaches, university leaders, and the NCAA in the months ahead to make meaningful changes to women’s collegiate athletics.

Team, both my sons and my daughters are athletes. Sports are critically important in developing teamwork and leadership skills. I have seen firsthand the impact it has had on my kids and I will keep fighting until all children have the same opportunity to reach their full athletic potential.

Take care,

Mikie