Joyce, Ross, Bacon, Castor Introduce Bill to End Abuse and Sexual Violence in Sports
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced the Safer Sports for Athletes Act. This bipartisan legislation strengthens the U.S. Center for SafeSport (SafeSport) through key revisions that would improve the investigative process for athlete survivors, promote communication with national governing bodies, and revise training guidelines, all while providing SafeSport with enhanced funding. The lawmakers will be joined by survivors who endured abuse at different levels of sports and advocates who have been fighting for change. Watch Congressman Joyce’s remarks on the bill here.
“Our nation’s athletes at all ages go through extensive training and work overtime to achieve their athletic goals. Unfortunately, the prevalence of sexual abuse by some of their most trusted mentors and coaches is all too common,” said Congressman Joyce. “After extensive conversations with athletes who have used the effective SafeSport program since 2018, my colleagues and I put together the Safer Sports for Athletes Act to make necessary improvements. These revisions will ensure athlete survivors get the care they deserve and the criminals are apprehended.”
“For too long, athletes in different sports and across all levels of athletics have endured devastating abuse and have not felt served by the institutions charged with protecting them,” said Congresswoman Ross. “No athlete – whether they play sports for fun or for a living – should be forced to experience the level of abuse, harassment, and violence that has become unacceptably common in sports today. The time for change is now, and I am proud to lead a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Safer Sports for Athletes Act. This comprehensive legislation will help SafeSport live up to its promise of protecting athletes and preventing abuse and sexual violence in sports.”
“Athletes who have been sexually abused should be taken seriously, and abusers must be swiftly brought to justice,” said Rep. Bacon, co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus. “When I became Commander of Ramstein Air Force Base, I inherited a base with the highest sexual assault allegations in the U.S. Air Force and established a three-point program to address it. The program was later ranked by the Air Force as the number one sexual assault response program. I am honored to cosponsor the Safer Sports for Athletes Act of 2024, which will increase transparency in investigations and ensure more resources are invested in training individuals to address sexual abuse.”
“Every athlete at every level deserves to participate in sports in a safe, harm-free environment,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “Congress created the U.S. Center for SafeSport to protect athletes and hold abusers accountable, but it’s clear that gaps in transparency and accountability must be addressed to serve athletes better. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to restore trust, strengthen safeguards and ensure every athlete can thrive in a supportive environment.”
Background: SafeSport conducts investigations into cases of abuse in sports, controls a centralized disciplinary database, and provides training designed to prevent abuse in sports to coaches, athletes, and sports organizations. As of May 2023, SafeSport reported that it received about 8,000 reports of abuse and misconduct per year. However, SafeSport needs further guidelines and resources to fulfill the intent of Congress to prevent and address sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of athletes.