Title: A resolution honoring the life of Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti.
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
This resolution honors the life and legacy of Nicholas Buoniconti and extends sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates upon his passing away.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 434 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 434

           Honoring the life of Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 19, 2019

   Mr. Rubio (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Scott of 
 Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Honoring the life of Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti.

Whereas Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti (referred to in this preamble as ``Nick 
        Buoniconti'') passed away at his home in Bridgehampton, New York, on 
        July 30, 2019;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti was born on December 15, 1940, in Springfield, 
        Massachusetts;
Whereas the parents of Nick Buoniconti, Nicholas Buoniconti Sr. and Pasqualina 
        (Mercolino) Buoniconti, contributed greatly to the Springfield community 
        and ran an Italian bakery named Mercolino's in the South End 
        neighborhood of the city;
Whereas the brother of Nick Buoniconti, Peter Buoniconti, remembers him as the 
        best athlete and the smartest and toughest kid in the South End;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti played guard on offense and linebacker on defense for 
        the football team of the University of Notre Dame and graduated from the 
        university in 1962;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti was chosen in the 13th round of the 1962 American 
        Football League (referred to in this preamble as the ``AFL'') draft by 
        the Boston Patriots;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti played for the Patriots from 1962 until 1968;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti appeared in 5 AFL All-Star games and made 24 
        interceptions during his time with the Patriots;
Whereas, in 1968, Nick Buoniconti earned his juris doctor from Suffolk 
        University Law School in Boston and was a member of both the Florida Bar 
        and the Massachusetts Bar;
Whereas, in 1969, Nick Buoniconti was traded to the Miami Dolphins, for whom he 
        played until 1976;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti was the captain of the back-to-back Super Bowl 
        Championship teams of the Dolphins, including the undefeated 1972 team;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti earned the Most Valuable Player title of the Dolphins 3 
        times during his career with the team;
Whereas, in 7 seasons with the Dolphins, Nick Buoniconti earned 3 Pro Bowl 
        berths and advanced to 3 straight Super Bowl appearances, winning 2 of 
        them;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti was inducted into the National Football League (referred 
        to in this preamble as the ``NFL'') Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 
        for his years as a middle linebacker with the Patriots and the Dolphins;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti served as an agent to professional athletes and, for 23 
        seasons, co-hosted the weekly sports show ``Inside the NFL'';
Whereas, on September 8, 2019, the Dolphins honored the passing of Nick 
        Buoniconti by wearing a helmet sticker with his initials, ``NAB'', 
        during the regular season opener of the team;
Whereas current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised Nick Buoniconti for his 
        grit, fearlessness, and skill while playing with the Patriots and the 
        Dolphins;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti consistently advocated and fought for the health and 
        safety of other NFL players;
Whereas, in 1985, the beloved son of Nick Buoniconti, Marc Buoniconti, became a 
        quadriplegic after suffering a spinal cord injury while playing college 
        football;
Whereas Nick and Marc Buoniconti were among the co-founders of the Miami Project 
        to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 
        a leading research center for spinal cord and brain injuries;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti founded The Buoniconti Fund, which has raised more than 
        $500,000,000 to fund the mission of the Miami Project to find a cure for 
        paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury;
Whereas Nick Buoniconti donated his brain to the Chronic Traumatic 
        Encephalopathy (referred to in this preamble as ``CTE'') Center of 
        Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation;
Whereas, upon making the decision to donate his brain, Nick Buoniconti expressed 
        his hope for a better understanding of the long-term effects of CTE and 
        other brain injuries that impact thousands of individuals each year; and
Whereas Nick Buoniconti served on the Board of Trustees of the University of 
        Miami for 27 years and received the Man of the Year ``Helping Hands 
        Award'' from the Miller School of Medicine: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family, 
        friends, and teammates of Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti (referred 
        to in this resolving clause as ``Nicholas Buoniconti'');
            (2) honors the life and legacy of Nicholas Buoniconti; and
            (3) expresses appreciation for the fight of Nicholas 
        Buoniconti both on and off the field.
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