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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E933-E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EMPOWERING OLYMPIC, PARALYMPIC, AND AMATEUR ATHLETES ACT OF 2020
______
speech of
HON. TED LIEU
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I am glad that today the
House is considering S. 2330, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and
Amateur Athletes Act, the Senate companion to legislation I introduced
in the House along with Representatives John Curtis, Diana DeGette, and
Susan Brooks. I am incredibly thankful for the courageous survivors who
stepped forward and whose advocacy made this legislation possible, and
to Senators Jerry Moran and Richard Blumenthal who authored this
legislation.
In 2016, I was shocked and angered when more than 300 brave gymnasts,
including some from my congressional district, began to come forward
with claims of sexual abuse against Larry Nassar, who had been the USA
Gymnastics team doctor and a Michigan State University faculty member.
I was similarly upset when only two years later, the Daily Breeze, a
newspaper in my district, released the results of its investigation
into USA Swimming. That investigation revealed, ``a culture within
American swimming where the sexual abuse of underage swimmers by their
coaches and others in positions of power within the sport was
commonplace and even accepted by top officials and coaches.''
The widespread and longstanding nature of the abuse as well as the
knowledge that many allegations of abuse were brushed under the table
have laid bare the deep systemic failures of the organizations charged
with protecting athletes. The exposure of these abuses has necessitated
immediate and aggressive reform of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic
Committee and the National Governing Bodies.
That is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 7881, the Empowering
Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act. This bipartisan
legislation helped build broad support for the reforms in S. 2330 and
ultimately usher them through the House of Representatives and onto the
President's desk to become law.
Our legislation seeks to protect amateur athletes from emotional,
physical, and sexual abuse in numerous ways. To strengthen
accountability, it imposes legal liability for the USOPC and the NGBs
when coaches or employees sexually abuse athletes. In addition, it
establishes mechanisms to allow Congress to dissolve the entities if
necessary. To empower athletes, the bill requires the establishment of
clear procedures and reporting requirements, imposes clear
responsibilities to protect athletes, and bolsters the Office of the
Ombuds to give athletes an independent resource if they have been
abused or assaulted. Finally, the bill strengthens and provides a
steady funding stream for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which provides
abuse prevention education and training and investigates allegations of
sexual abuse.
[[Page E934]]
We all owe a debt of gratitude to those survivors who bravely spoke
up about the horrific abuses that they endured and then turned their
grief into advocacy. It is my hope that their work and this legislation
will bring lasting, positive change to the sports world.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
____________________
