High School Football Safety Study Act

Bill: 114-hr-3986
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]
Introduced: 2015-11-05
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Athletes

Child health

Congressional oversight

Elementary and secondary education

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Health promotion and preventive care

Medical research

School athletics
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-11-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>High School Football Safety Study Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) conduct a study to more precisely identify the causes of deaths related to high school football and to develop recommendations to prevent such deaths, and (2) submit to Congress and publish on the public website of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a report on the study's results.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3986 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 5, 2015 Mr. Richmond (for himself, Mr. Rush , and Mr. Abraham ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, to conduct a study on the causes of deaths related to high school football and formulate recommendations to prevent such deaths.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the High School Football Safety Study Act . 2. Findings The Congress finds as follows: (1) As of October 27, 2015, seven high school football players—Cam’ron Matthews, Roddrick Williams, Kenney Bui, Evan Murray, Ben Hamm, Tyrell Cameron, and Andre Smith—have passed away during calendar year 2015 from causes directly or indirectly related to football, including head or neck trauma, heat stroke, and dehydration. (2) According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, 1,207 high school football players have passed away since 1931 from causes directly or indirectly related to football. (3) Over the past several years, the negative health effects of repeated head trauma have become clearer. (4) Protecting the Nation’s children is one of the most important responsibilities of parents and Members of Congress. 3. Studying high school football deaths and developing recommendations to prevent future tragedies (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, shall conduct a study— (1) to more precisely identify the causes of deaths related to high school football; and (2) to develop recommendations to prevent such deaths in the future. (b) Soliciting input In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek input from nongovernmental entities, including organizations representing football coaches, athletic trainers, parents, and health care professionals. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress and publish on the public Website of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a report on the results of the study under subsection (a). (d) Contents The report under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a comprehensive review of research conducted on deaths in high school football; (2) an evaluation of causes of deaths related to high school football; and (3) recommendations on actions that can be taken by schools, coaches, trainers, and governmental entities to prevent high school deaths from occurring in the future, including— (A) measures to prevent life-threatening injury from occurring; (B) medical treatment protocols to treat these injuries when they occur; and (C) ways in which technology and data analytics can be used to prevent serious injury and death.