IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 83

Expressing the sense of Congress that the National Basketball Association

and the Players Association should extend pension benefits to certain

surviving post-World War II, pre-1965 professional basketball players.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 16, 1997

Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois,

Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DIAZBALART, Mr. RUSH, Mr. POSHARD, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. EVANS, and Mr.

BROWN of California) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the National Basketball Association and the Players Association should extend pension benefits to certain surviving post-World

War II, pre-1965 professional basketball players.

Whereas the purpose of the National Basketball Association

is to promote the best interests of professional basketball

by encouraging good sportsmanship and good will among

its players and the fans;

Whereas the purpose of the Players Association is to promote

the best interests of professional basketball players by

protecting their rights and livelihood;
2

•HCON 83 IH

Whereas the current pension provisions of the NBA Players

Pension Plan extend pension benefits to post-1965 players with only 3 years of participation, while pre-1965

players must have played a minimum of 5 years to obtain

these benefits;

Whereas these provisions created a double standard whereby

approximately 60 of the most needy, post-World War II,

pre-1965 pioneer professional basketball players were unfairly excluded from any pension rights;

Whereas pioneer players are guilty only of being born too

soon, because they would have qualified for the benefits

if they had participated in the league after 1965;

Whereas these pioneer players’ participation of 3 or 4 years

was no lesser of a contribution to the development of the

National Basketball Association than the post-1965 players’ 3 years of participation;

Whereas the players of today earn multimillion dollar contracts and are guaranteed prosperous pensions as a direct result of the unselfish dedication of these pioneer

players;

Whereas the National Basketball Association chose to celebrate its glorious past and honor certain old timers at the

All Star Game, but chooses to neglect those players who

suffer daily under the hardships of poverty;

Whereas the National Basketball Association proclaims no

legal obligation to extend pension benefits to the very

players who have provided the basis for the prosperity

and durability of the present-day National Basketball Association; and

Whereas the National Basketball Association disavows its

moral obligation to care for its own, and thus fails to
3

•HCON 83 IH

promote the best interests of the league and good will

among current and former players: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

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

3 surviving post-World War II, pre-1965 Basketball Asso4 ciation of America, National Basketball League, and Na5 tional Basketball Association players with a minimum of

6 3 years of eligible service should be entitled to pension

7 benefits.

Æ