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Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 1, 2020
Location: Washington, DC


Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2330, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020.

In 2016, we were shaken by the revelations of abuse that permeated USA Gymnastics and the Olympic community. While the blame for this abuse falls squarely at the feet of the predator, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee also failed the victims.

In 2017, the U.S. Olympic Committee created the U.S. Center for SafeSport. SafeSport is an independent organization entrusted with responding to reports of abuse and misconduct within the Olympic Committee.

S. 2330 supports the work that SafeSport is doing and helps address the shortcomings in the committee that allowed the abuse to occur. One of the most important reforms in this bill is a requirement that athletes serve on the governing bodies that oversee their sports, ensuring that athletes finally get a seat at the table.

I thank Senator Moran and the other Senators who investigated these issues and developed these important reforms.

I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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