Capito bill would legislate equality in global amateur athletic competitions

A bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) would require all athletes representing the United States in global amateur athletic competitions to receive equal compensation, benefits, medical care, travel, and reimbursement of expenses, regardless of gender. 

“When American athletes compete on the world stage, they represent our great nation, our people, and our values,” Sen. 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.”

Sen. Capito on July 13 cosponsored the Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2021, S. 2333, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), which would apply to the national governing bodies of 50 different sports.

If approved, S. 2333 also would require the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to conduct oversight and report on compliance with the enacted legislation, according to the text of the bill.  

West Virginia University Women’s Soccer head coach Nikki-Izzo Brown endorsed the bill, which is also supported by numerous organizations, including the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports, the American Volleyball Coaches Association, the Equality League, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, the National Organization for Women, the National Women’s Law Center, UN Women, U.S. Squash, USA Curling, USA Volleyball, USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, and the Women’s Sports Foundation, among many others.