Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN), the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, became law with President Donald Trump’s signature on Feb. 14.
“I am proud this bill has been signed into law … for all of our past, present and future athletes who dedicate hours of training to perfect their sport or dream of the Olympic stage,” said Rep. Brooks, who called it “a game-changing, bipartisan bill that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our nation’s athletes.”
Rep. Brooks introduced H.R. 1973 on April 6, 2017 with her co-chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), as a companion bill to S. 534, introduced by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on March 6, 2017.
U.S. Reps. Martha Roby (R-AL), Ryan Costello (R-PA) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) were among the 16 cosponsors of H.R. 1973, which the House passed on May 25, 2017 by a vote of 415-3.
Introduction of the measure coincided with young athletes’ allegations of sexual abuse by personnel involved with USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and USA Taekwondo, according to Brooks’ office, which noted that despite victims saying they reported such abuses to USA Gymnastics, subsequent actions by the organization never materialized.
“We must ensure our youth are safe when they go to the gym, take the ice or run onto the fields to practice their sport,” Rep. Brooks, a former U.S. attorney, said this week.
The measure requires, among other provisions, that sexual abuse be promptly reported to law enforcement authorities and extends mandatory reporting duty to certain adults authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes at a facility under jurisdiction of a sport’s national governing body, according to a summary provided by Brooks’ office. Failure of these individuals to report suspected child abuse subjects them to criminal penalties.
“Young athletes look to their coaches, instructors and trainers as role-models and this bill works to ensure our athletic national governing bodies support a culture within their organizations to foster safe and healthy relationships between coaches, instructors, trainers and the athletes they train through policies and procedures that prevent, detect and report allegations of abuse to law enforcement in an appropriate and timely manner,” Brooks said.
Additionally, the legislation changes the statute of limitations for such abuse and calls on national governing bodies to develop abuse prevention training and strategies, as well as procedures for reporting and responding to abuse.
U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which had jurisdiction over H.R. 1973, joined Brooks and Frankel as an original cosponsor of the bill. Goodlatte said on Feb. 14 that he “was extremely happy” to see the bill become law.
“As I have watched the U.S. Olympic team compete this year, I have been struck by the dedication of our young athletes to overcome personal hardship in pursuit of their goals. In particular, I have been moved by the courage of sexual abuse survivors who came forward with their stories,” said Goodlatte. “This bill champions the cause of these survivors and creates safeguards against abuse.”
S. 534 had passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Nov. 14, 2017. The measure gained 29 cosponsors. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) were among S. 534’s 15 original cosponsors.
The House passed S. 534 on Jan. 29 and the Senate agreed to a House amendment on Jan. 30, resolving differences between the bills and sending a final version to the president on Feb. 7. Trump then signed it a week later.