With reports out that USA Gymnastics did little to respond to allegations of sexual abuse of young athletes, Florida’s two senators are backing a bill from U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., mandating amateur athletics organizations to quickly report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement or child welfare organizations recognized by the U.S. Justice Department.
Feinstein’s bill, which was introduced on Monday, responds to recent reports of allegations that USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and USA Taekwondo personnel sexually abused athletes. Both U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.
“Sexual abuse stays with victims their entire lives. Amateur athletic governing bodies, coaches, and personnel have a special obligation to do all they can to protect young athletes in their care,” Feinstein said on Monday. “All allegations of sex abuse must be promptly reported to local or federal law enforcement. Otherwise, they may not be treated with the seriousness that’s required.”
“There should be no excuse for anyone—particularly those in positions of authority and who are entrusted with the safety and well-being of young athletes—to fail to report the sexual abuse of children and young adults,” said Rubio. “Recent revelations about the USA Gymnastics program are deeply troubling, and it’s clear we must do more to strengthen protections for young athletes, ensure victims receive justice, and hold predators accountable.”
“This will force the U.S. Olympic Committee and their national athletic governing bodies to do something they should have been doing all along: developing and enforcing strict policies that protect athletes from sexual abuse,” said Nelson. “It’s inexcusable that responsible adults looked the other way while terrible crimes were committed.”
The bill has a host of other co-sponsors in the Senate including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Todd Young of Indiana and Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
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