Report courtesy of U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and Senator Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV) reintroduced their bipartisan plan to ensure equal pay or Americans who represent the U.S. in global athletic competitions, like the Olympics and Pan American Games, regardless of gender Tuesday, July 13.
“US Squash is proud to support this important legislation,” said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of US Squash. “We led the way in parity for prize money in pro squash globally by offering it first in 2013, and all the other ‘majors’ followed within two years. We also pay our high-performance program athletes the same regardless of gender, and have the goal of full parity in participation across juniors, and adults by 2030.”
The Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2021, would require that all athletes representing the United States in global athletic competitions receive equal compensation, benefits, medical care, travel, and reimbursement of expenses, regardless of gender.
The bill applies to 50 different sports’ national governing bodies, and it requires the USOPC to conduct oversight and report on compliance with the legislation.
“All Americans are proud to see U.S. athletes represent our country on the world stage, and all Americans should be assured these athletes are being compensated equally,” Senator Cantwell said. “Anything short of that sends exactly the wrong message across the world and here at home about the American commitment to equality and fairness. It is long past time for us to work together to right this wrong and get this done.”
“When American athletes compete on the world stage, they represent our great nation, our people, and our values,” Senator Capito said. “It is only right that the women competing for the United States in global athletic competitions receive the same kind of pay and benefits as their male counterparts. This is an issue we can address together, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans, and I’m proud to join Senator Cantwell in introducing this legislation.”
Read the full text of Senator Cantwell and Senator Capito’s bipartisan plan here.
