Bill Summary
The "Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act" is a bill that aims to establish a commission, called the "Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics," within the legislative branch. This commission will be composed of 16 members, with each member having experience in amateur or professional athletics, athletic coaching, advocacy for victims of bullying or harassment, public service relating to sports, or advocacy for increased minority participation in sports. The commission will hold an initial meeting within 30 days of the last member's appointment and will conduct a study on various aspects of United States participation in the Olympic and Paralympic games. This study will include proposed reforms to the United States Olympic Committee, diversity within the committee's board, athlete participation levels, licensing arrangements, and the effectiveness of the United States Center for Safe Sport in handling reported cases of bullying, hazing, harassment, and sexual assault. The commission will submit a report of its findings, conclusions, recommendations, and suggested policy changes to Congress within 270 days of the bill's enactment, which will also be made available to the public. The commission will have the power to subpoena individuals and request information from federal agencies. It will terminate 90 days after submitting its report and will be authorized to receive necessary funding.
Possible Impacts
1. It may affect Olympic and Paralympic athletes who will be appointed to the Commission and required to serve without pay but receive travel expenses.
2. It may affect individuals who have experienced bullying, harassment, hazing, or sexual assault within the context of amateur or professional athletics as they may be called to testify before the Commission.
3. It may affect the general public as the report required by the Commission will be made available to the public on a government website.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 132 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 132
To establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and
Paralympics.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 15, 2019
Mr. Gardner introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and
Paralympics.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMISSION ON THE STATE OF U.S. OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the legislative
branch a commission, to be known as the ``Commission on the State of
U.S. Olympics and Paralympics'' (referred to in this section as the
``Commission'').
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 16
members, of whom--
(A) 4 members shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate;
(B) 4 members shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate;
(C) 4 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives; and
(D) 4 members shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(2) Co-chairs.--Of the members of the Commission--
(A) 1 co-chair shall be designated by the majority
leader of the Senate; and
(B) 1 co-chair shall be designated by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
(3) Qualifications.--
(A) In general.--Each member appointed to the
Commission shall have experience in--
(i) amateur or professional athletics;
(ii) athletic coaching;
(iii) professional advocacy on behalf of
victims of bullying, harassment, hazing, or
sexual assault;
(iv) public service relating to sports; or
(v) professional advocacy for increased
minority participation in sports.
(B) Olympic or paralympic athletes.--Not fewer than
8 members appointed under paragraph (1) shall be
Olympic or Paralympic athletes.
(c) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the last member is appointed under paragraph (1), the Commission
shall hold an initial meeting.
(d) Quorum.--Eleven members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum.
(e) No Proxy Voting.--Proxy voting by members of the Commission
shall be prohibited.
(f) Staff.--The co-chairs of the Commission shall appoint an
executive director of the Commission, and such staff as appropriate,
with compensation.
(g) Public Hearings.--The Commission shall hold 1 or more public
hearings.
(h) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall serve without
pay, but shall receive travel expenses in accordance with sections 5702
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(i) Duties of Commission.--
(1) Study.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a
study on matters relating to the state of United States
participation in the Olympic and Paralympic games.
(B) Matters studied.--The study under subparagraph
(A) shall include--
(i) a description of proposed reforms to
the structure of the United States Olympic
Committee;
(ii) an assessment of whether the board of
the United States Olympic Committee includes
diverse members, including athletes;
(iii) an assessment of United States
athlete participation levels in the Olympics
and Paralympics;
(iv) a description of the status of any
United States Olympic Committee licensing
arrangement;
(v) an assessment of whether the United
States is achieving the goals for the Olympics
and Paralympics set by the United States
Olympic Committee;
(vi) an analysis of the participation in
amateur athletics of--
(I) women;
(II) disabled individuals; and
(III) minorities;
(vii) a description of ongoing efforts by
the United States Olympic Committee to recruit
the Olympics and Paralympics to the United
States;
(viii) an evaluation of the function of the
national governing bodies (as defined in
section 220502 of title 36, United States Code)
and an analysis of the responsiveness of the
national governing bodies to athletes;
(ix) an assessment of whether the United
States Center for Safe Sport effectively
handles reported cases of bullying, hazing,
harassment, and sexual assault; and
(x) an assessment of the finances and the
financial organization of the United States
Olympic Committee.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
submit to Congress a report on the results of the study
under paragraph (1), including a detailed statement of
findings, conclusions, recommendations, and suggested
policy changes.
(B) Public availability.--The report required by
subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the public
on an internet website of the United States Government
that is available to the public.
(j) Powers of Commission.--
(1) Subpoena authority.--The Commission may subpoena an
individual the testimony of whom may be relevant to the purpose
of the Commission.
(2) Furnishing information.--On request by the executive
director of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall
furnish information to the Commission.
(k) Termination of Commission.--The Commission shall terminate 90
days after the date on which the Commission submits the report under
subsection (i)(2).
(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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