IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 655 

Expressing concern regarding the preventable loss of life associated with 

sports-related sudden death of student athletes in the United States, 

and emphasizing the importance of rigorous, evidence-based pre-participation physical examinations for student athletes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 21, 2016 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself and Mr. CURBELO of Florida) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing concern regarding the preventable loss of life 

associated with sports-related sudden death of student 

athletes in the United States, and emphasizing the importance of rigorous, evidence-based pre-participation 

physical examinations for student athletes. 

Whereas a pre-participation examination is an essential component of ensuring safe and healthy sports participation; 

Whereas a pre-participation physical examination may be the 

sole source of medical evaluation for a significant share 

of American children and adolescents each year; 


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•HRES 655 IH 

Whereas pre-participation physical examinations are important to helping student athletes and their parents understand a student athlete’s unique individual risks of potential injury or illness related to their participation in athletics; 

Whereas medical, practitioner, and scientific professional society recommendations, as well as the recommendations 

of Federal and State task forces, represent invaluable 

contributions to the standard of care provided during 

pre-participation physical examinations; 

Whereas scientific research and innovation in healthcare has 

led to the development of now-widely available tools, including electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance 

imaging (MRI), and next-generation genetic sequencing 

(NGS), and will continue to advance the development of 

future technologies, designed to diagnose potential medical problems; 

Whereas medical professionals, student athletes, and parents 

of student athletes must act in partnership to carry out 

a successful pre-participation physical examination, including sharing concerns and appropriately weighing individualized risk factors; 

Whereas local school districts, youth sports associations, and 

college and university athletic departments have a responsibility to educate student athletes, parents of student athletes, or both such athletes and parents about 

sports-related health risks, raise awareness about student 

athlete health, and develop responsible policies and recommendations to encourage healthy sports participation; 


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•HRES 655 IH 

Whereas an estimated 120 student athletes passed away during sports-related activities in 2014, and the risk of sudden death for student athletes is estimated at one out of 

200,000 per year, though several recent studies indicate 

that the actual figure may be significantly higher; and 

Whereas each and every student athlete’s death from a preventable cause during an organized athletic practice or 

competition is a tragedy with severe emotional, physical, 

and financial consequences for families, schools, and communities: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives encour2 ages local school districts, youth sports associations, and 

3 college and university athletic departments to regularly 

4 update their pre-participation physical examination poli5 cies, in accordance with evidence-based best practices and 

6 with respect for special parental considerations, in the fol7 lowing areas— 

8 (1) medical and family history surveys; 

9 (2) physical examination practices; 

10 (3) cardiovascular screenings; 

11 (4) neurologic screenings; 

12 (5) orthopaedic screenings; 

13 (6) general medical screenings; 

14 (7) medication and supplement use surveys; 

15 (8) nutritional and dietary assessments; 

16 (9) heat and hydration-related illness risk as17 sessments; 


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•HRES 655 IH 

1 (10) mental health considerations; 

2 (11) the administration of pre-participation 

3 physical examinations; 

4 (12) the referral of cases for further evaluation 

5 and intervention; and 

6 (13) the determination of clearance for, or ex7 clusion from, sports participation. 

Æ 


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