Speier, Scott Welcome Release of GAO Report on Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) made the following statement on the release of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report Youth Athletes: Sports Programs’ Guidance, Practices, and Policies to Help Prevent and Respond to Sexual Abuse. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is entrusted with oversight and legislative jurisdiction over student safety.
“Youth sports in America have been suffering from a quiet epidemic of sexual abuse for decades and it simply cannot continue,” said Speier. “Investigations over the past few years have made crystal clear the depth and breadth of abuse in sports like USA Swimming. Today’s GAO report highlights areas that are clearly lacking when it comes to simple strategies to effectively prevent and combat sexual abuse of our children. I look forward to working with Congressman Bobby Scott on this issue, as we continue the legacy of our esteemed former colleague Congressman George Miller.”
“It is our responsibility to ensure that our students are able to learn and grow in safe environments, free from the trauma of sexual abuse,” said Scott. “This report helps us get a better sense of the scope of the problem of sexual abuse in youth sports. Armed with this knowledge, we can work to create safeguards for students in team and individual sports and establish processes to ensure they are coached only by responsible adults.”
Child sexual abuse and sexual misconduct have largely flown under the radar in our nation’s youth sports teams. Despite the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) recent creation of the SafeSport program in 2010, much remains to be done in order to fully eradicate the problem. For example, over 100 coaches now make up the list of coaches permanently banned by USA Swimming.
In June 2013, former Congressman George Miller requested a report from the GAO about the scope of sexual abuse in youth sports in America. He also requested in July 2014 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) examine USA Swimming’s handling of past and present cases of child sexual abuse. Now, the GAO has released its report which highlights areas in which safety protocols are still lacking.
Upon reviewing the report, there are clear areas where improvements can be made, including: 1) Requiring fingerprint-based nationwide checks instead of the current, common, and ineffective named-based criminal background checks; 2) Implementing reference checks during a more thorough interview process of coaching applicants; and 3) Developing a clear and consistent procedure for reporting and responding to incidents of sexual abuse.
To view the full GAO report, click here.
The federal government has substantial power and jurisdiction to address sexual abuse in youth sports. Congress established the USOC via The Amateur Sports Act of 1978, and authorized it to recognize National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in 1998. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) publish best practices for prevention of child sexual abuse in youth-serving organizations. The Department of Justice (DoJ) may investigate alleged federal crimes relating to youth athlete abuse. And the Department of Education (ED) and DoJ also oversee compliance with civil rights laws that protect against sexual abuse at schools that receive federal funding, including youth sports camps on university campuses, and require them to report any crimes that occur on or near campus.
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Contacts for Rep. Speier:
DC – Barron YoungSmith 202-225-3531
CA – Katrina Rill 650-342-0300 / 650-208-7441 cell
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