Washington, DC – Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-21), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), and DWC Vice Chairs Reps. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), were joined by 47 colleagues today in sending a letter to U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro expressing their deep concern regarding inequities in pay, publicity, and investment in the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). The Members are also demanding answers from the Federation as to how it will remedy these injustices. The USWNT is the most successful team in women’s soccer history, winning World Cup titles in 1991, 1999 and 2015; winning four Olympic gold medals; and holding the No. 1 ranking entering the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, despite doing the same job as the U.S. Men’s National Team, USWNT players are receiving inferior wages, working conditions, and investment from U.S. Soccer. “The inequities that these women champions have faced as members of the USWNT are indefensible,” the Members wrote. “The U.S. Soccer Federation should work to correct course and close the wage gap so that the only thing women athletes are fighting for is the world title or a gold medal. Instead, the message sent to women and girls is that their skills and accomplishments are of lesser value.” In their letter, the Members requested information about the U.S. Soccer Federation’s plans to address institutionalized gender discrimination within the Federation and justifications for differences in compensation, marketing, and promotion which have implications for its compliance with the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. The Act requires National Governing Bodies, like U.S. Soccer, to “provide equitable support and encouragement” to women. A copy of the letter can be found here.