The Equal Pay for Team USA Act, led in part by Sen. Maria Cantwell, was signed into law by President Joe Biden yesterday.
The law requires equal pay and benefits for all athletes who represent the United States in global competitions.
Cantwell began work with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, in 2019 after the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team sued U.S. Soccer for equal pay.
“I also want to thank heroes like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan who brought that case against U.S. Soccer. U.S. Women’s Soccer led the charge after winning the World Cup and making it clear to everyone that women athletes deserve equal pay,” Cantwell said.
After reintroducing the bipartisan bill in June 2022, it passed in both the Senate and House last month.
The law applies to 50 different sports while also requiring the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to handle oversight.