IV

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 199

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a national summit of sports,

political, and community leaders should be promptly convened to develop

a multifaceted action plan to promote citizenship through sports, emphasizing the aspects of sports culture that promote self-respect and respect

for others, and that deter acts of violence, including domestic violence

and sexual assault.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 24, 1996

Mr. SANDERS (for himself and Mrs. MORELLA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Economic and

Educational Opportunities

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a national summit

of sports, political, and community leaders should be

promptly convened to develop a multifaceted action plan

to promote citizenship through sports, emphasizing the

aspects of sports culture that promote self-respect and

respect for others, and that deter acts of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

Whereas involvement in sports places individuals in a unique

context of competition that provides an opportunity to

teach, learn, and hone qualities of citizenship, including

values that promote self-respect and respect for others,
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and deter acts of violence including domestic violence and

sexual assault;

Whereas our Nation’s sports culture is derived from and influenced by the thoughts, beliefs, speech, and other behavior of organizations and individuals associated with

professional and amateur sports in America;

Whereas professional and amateur athletes and sports coaches are role models with great national influence and have

helped to positively shape the lives of countless individuals;

Whereas professional and amateur athletes, and sports coaches, administrators, volunteers, and team owners have consistently participated in a diversity of outstanding and

valuable community service projects throughout the Nation;

Whereas many professional and amateur sports organizations

have instituted educational programs and other measures

to deter and sanction misconduct, including abuse of

legal and illegal drugs, illegal gambling, discriminatory

practices, and other unethical behavior;

Whereas the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance is made up

of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the National

Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the United

States Olympic Committee, Major League Baseball, the

National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League; and

Whereas the Congress recognizes and applauds the mandate

and activities of the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance

and its member organizations and are encouraged by
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their efforts to promote citizenship by teaching athletes

values that will help the athletes to become better citizens: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) a national summit should be promptly con4 vened to develop a multifaceted action plan to pro5 mote citizenship through sports, emphasizing the as6 pects of sports culture that promote self-respect and

7 respect for others, and that deter acts of violence,

8 including domestic violence and sexual assault;

9 (2) the members of the national summit re10 ferred to in paragraph (1) should include—

11 (A) sports, community, religious, and polit12 ical leaders;

13 (B) individuals with experience in youth

14 advocacy;

15 (C) individuals with experience in

16 antiviolence advocacy;

17 (D) members of the Citizenship Through

18 Sports Alliance;

19 (E) Members of Congress; and

20 (F) other governmental and community

21 leaders with specific expertise in education and

22 advocacy programs that promote self-respect

23 and respect for others and that work to deter
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1 acts of violence, including domestic violence and

2 sexual assault;

3 (3) the action plan referred to in paragraph (1)

4 should—

5 (A) be designed to encourage the participa6 tion of all levels of athletes, from those involved

7 in youth leagues to those who are involved in

8 professional sports;

9 (B) emphasize and promote values such as

10 self-respect and respect for others, teamwork,

11 discipline, responsibility, and commitment;

12 (C) encourage and promote participation in

13 sports as a positive character building activity;

14 (D) promote a sports culture that encour15 ages integrity, honesty, fairness, inclusion, tol16 erance, nonviolence, and a commitment to excel17 lence; and

18 (E) include a high-profile public education

19 program and media campaign to promote values

20 such as self-respect and respect for others, and

21 to deter acts of violence, including domestic vio22 lence and sexual assault; and

23 (4) the members of the national summit re24 ferred to in paragraph (1), and other sports, com25 munity, religious, and political leaders should as-
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1 sume leadership roles in promoting good citizenship

2 and should promote the measures developed by the

3 national summit.

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