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 con-
current 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 oppor-
tunity 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 coach-
es are role models with great national influence and have
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helped to positively shape the lives of countless individ-
uals;
Whereas professional and amateur athletes, and sports coach-
es, administrators, volunteers, and team owners have par-
ticipated in a variety of outstanding and valuable commu-
nity 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 seri-
ous, indefensible crimes;
Whereas acts of domestic violence and sexual assault commit-
ted 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 vio-
lence 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 Asso-
ciation, 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
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Whereas the Congress supports the existing activities of the
Citizenship Through Sports Alliance and its member or-
ganizations and encourages a broader array of efforts to
promote responsible citizenship by teaching administra-
tors, coaches, and athletes values that will help all who
participate in our Nation’s sports culture to become bet-
ter citizens: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) a national summit should be promptly con-
vened to develop a multifaceted action plan to deter
acts of violence, especially domestic violence and sex-
ual assault;
(2) the members of the national summit re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) should include—
(A) sports, community, political, and media
leaders;
(B) individuals with experience in youth
advocacy;
(C) 
individuals 
with 
experience 
in
antiviolence advocacy;
(D) members of the Citizenship Through
Sports Alliance;
(E) Members of Congress; and
(F) other governmental and community
leaders with specific expertise in education and
advocacy programs that serve to deter acts of
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violence, especially domestic violence and sexual
assault;
(3) the action plan referred to in paragraph (1)
should—
(A) be designed to encourage the participa-
tion of all administrators, coaches, and athletes,
from those involved in youth leagues to those
who are involved in professional sports;
(B) emphasize and promote values such as
self-respect and respect for others, tolerance,
non-discrimination, and gender equality as well
as teamwork, discipline, responsibility, and com-
mitment;
(C) encourage and promote participation in
sports as a positive character building activity;
(D) promote a sports culture that encour-
ages integrity, honesty, fairness, inclusion, tol-
erance, nonviolence, and a commitment to excel-
lence; and
(E) include a high-profile public education
program and media campaign to deter acts of
violence, especially domestic violence and sexual
assault; and
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(4) the members of the national summit re-
ferred to in paragraph (1), and other sports, com-
munity, political and media leaders should assume
leadership roles deterring acts of domestic violence
and sexual assault and should support the measures
developed by the national summit referred to in
paragraph (1).
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