IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 29

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

political, community, and media leaders should be promptly convened

to develop a multifaceted action plan to deter acts of violence, especially

domestic violence and sexual assault.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 27, 1997

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

and the Workforce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a national summit

of sports, political, community, and media leaders should

be promptly convened to develop a multifaceted action

plan to deter acts of violence, especially domestic violence

and sexual assault.

Whereas involvement in sports commonly places individuals in

a unique context of competition that provides an opportunity to teach, learn, and hone qualities of responsible

citizenship, including values that promote self-respect and

respect for others, and deter acts of violence, especially

domestic violence and sexual assault;

Whereas professional and amateur athletes and sports coaches are role models with great national influence and have
2

•HCON 29 IH

helped to positively shape the lives of countless individuals;

Whereas professional and amateur athletes, and sports coaches, administrators, volunteers, and team owners have participated in a variety 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 acts of domestic violence and sexual assault are serious, indefensible crimes;

Whereas acts of domestic violence and sexual assault committed by athletes are often not taken seriously and go

unpunished, sending an insidious and harmful message

that this behavior is excusable and is not criminal;

Whereas most athletes do not commit acts of domestic violence or sexual assault and these athletes, as role models,

can have a profound impact in deterring others from

committing acts of domestic violence and sexual assault;

Whereas there exists a Citizenship Through Sports Alliance

that 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
3

•HCON 29 IH

Whereas the Congress supports the existing activities of the

Citizenship Through Sports Alliance and its member organizations and encourages a broader array of efforts to

promote responsible citizenship by teaching administrators, coaches, and athletes values that will help all who

participate in our Nation’s sports culture 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 deter

5 acts of violence, especially domestic violence and sex6 ual assault;

7 (2) the members of the national summit re8 ferred to in paragraph (1) should include—

9 (A) sports, community, political, and media

10 leaders;

11 (B) individuals with experience in youth

12 advocacy;

13 (C) individuals with experience in

14 antiviolence advocacy;

15 (D) members of the Citizenship Through

16 Sports Alliance;

17 (E) Members of Congress; and

18 (F) other governmental and community

19 leaders with specific expertise in education and

20 advocacy programs that serve to deter acts of
4

•HCON 29 IH

1 violence, especially domestic violence and sexual

2 assault;

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

4 should—

5 (A) be designed to encourage the participa6 tion of all administrators, coaches, and athletes,

7 from those involved in youth leagues to those

8 who are involved in professional sports;

9 (B) emphasize and promote values such as

10 self-respect and respect for others, tolerance,

11 non-discrimination, and gender equality as well

12 as teamwork, discipline, responsibility, and com13 mitment;

14 (C) encourage and promote participation in

15 sports as a positive character building activity;

16 (D) promote a sports culture that encour17 ages integrity, honesty, fairness, inclusion, tol18 erance, nonviolence, and a commitment to excel19 lence; and

20 (E) include a high-profile public education

21 program and media campaign to deter acts of

22 violence, especially domestic violence and sexual

23 assault; and
5

•HCON 29 IH

1 (4) the members of the national summit re2 ferred to in paragraph (1), and other sports, com3 munity, political and media leaders should assume

4 leadership roles deterring acts of domestic violence

5 and sexual assault and should support the measures

6 developed by the national summit referred to in

7 paragraph (1).

Æ