Title: Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act
This bill establishes within the legislative branch the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, which shall study matters relating to the state of U.S. participation in the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Such study shall, among other things, include a description of proposed reforms to the structure of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and assessments of

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 132 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 132

     To establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and 
                              Paralympics.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 15, 2019

  Mr. Gardner introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and 
                              Paralympics.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMISSION ON THE STATE OF U.S. OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the legislative 
branch a commission, to be known as the ``Commission on the State of 
U.S. Olympics and Paralympics'' (referred to in this section as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 4 members shall be appointed by the majority 
                leader of the Senate;
                    (B) 4 members shall be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the Senate;
                    (C) 4 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives; and
                    (D) 4 members shall be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Co-chairs.--Of the members of the Commission--
                    (A) 1 co-chair shall be designated by the majority 
                leader of the Senate; and
                    (B) 1 co-chair shall be designated by the Speaker 
                of the House of Representatives.
            (3) Qualifications.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member appointed to the 
                Commission shall have experience in--
                            (i) amateur or professional athletics;
                            (ii) athletic coaching;
                            (iii) professional advocacy on behalf of 
                        victims of bullying, harassment, hazing, or 
                        sexual assault;
                            (iv) public service relating to sports; or
                            (v) professional advocacy for increased 
                        minority participation in sports.
                    (B) Olympic or paralympic athletes.--Not fewer than 
                8 members appointed under paragraph (1) shall be 
                Olympic or Paralympic athletes.
    (c) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the last member is appointed under paragraph (1), the Commission 
shall hold an initial meeting.
    (d) Quorum.--Eleven members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum.
    (e) No Proxy Voting.--Proxy voting by members of the Commission 
shall be prohibited.
    (f) Staff.--The co-chairs of the Commission shall appoint an 
executive director of the Commission, and such staff as appropriate, 
with compensation.
    (g) Public Hearings.--The Commission shall hold 1 or more public 
hearings.
    (h) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall serve without 
pay, but shall receive travel expenses in accordance with sections 5702 
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (i) Duties of Commission.--
            (1) Study.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a 
                study on matters relating to the state of United States 
                participation in the Olympic and Paralympic games.
                    (B) Matters studied.--The study under subparagraph 
                (A) shall include--
                            (i) a description of proposed reforms to 
                        the structure of the United States Olympic 
                        Committee;
                            (ii) an assessment of whether the board of 
                        the United States Olympic Committee includes 
                        diverse members, including athletes;
                            (iii) an assessment of United States 
                        athlete participation levels in the Olympics 
                        and Paralympics;
                            (iv) a description of the status of any 
                        United States Olympic Committee licensing 
                        arrangement;
                            (v) an assessment of whether the United 
                        States is achieving the goals for the Olympics 
                        and Paralympics set by the United States 
                        Olympic Committee;
                            (vi) an analysis of the participation in 
                        amateur athletics of--
                                    (I) women;
                                    (II) disabled individuals; and
                                    (III) minorities;
                            (vii) a description of ongoing efforts by 
                        the United States Olympic Committee to recruit 
                        the Olympics and Paralympics to the United 
                        States;
                            (viii) an evaluation of the function of the 
                        national governing bodies (as defined in 
                        section 220502 of title 36, United States Code) 
                        and an analysis of the responsiveness of the 
                        national governing bodies to athletes;
                            (ix) an assessment of whether the United 
                        States Center for Safe Sport effectively 
                        handles reported cases of bullying, hazing, 
                        harassment, and sexual assault; and
                            (x) an assessment of the finances and the 
                        financial organization of the United States 
                        Olympic Committee.
            (2) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
                submit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
                under paragraph (1), including a detailed statement of 
                findings, conclusions, recommendations, and suggested 
                policy changes.
                    (B) Public availability.--The report required by 
                subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the public 
                on an internet website of the United States Government 
                that is available to the public.
    (j) Powers of Commission.--
            (1) Subpoena authority.--The Commission may subpoena an 
        individual the testimony of whom may be relevant to the purpose 
        of the Commission.
            (2) Furnishing information.--On request by the executive 
        director of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall 
        furnish information to the Commission.
    (k) Termination of Commission.--The Commission shall terminate 90 
days after the date on which the Commission submits the report under 
subsection (i)(2).
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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