House Judiciary Committee Announces Houston Forum on Head Injuries in Football

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today announced the Judiciary Committee will hold a forum in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2010 to address head injuries in collegiate and youth football.

The Judiciary Committee held hearings on October 28, 2009 and January 4, 2010 addressing head injuries in football with testimony from the commissioner of the National Football League, the executive director the NFL Players Association, and health experts.  The Committee now turns its attention to how universities and high schools treat student athletes with football head injuries.

"At Monday’s hearing in Detroit, I heard former NFL players describe the devastating consequences of the head injuries they suffered while playing," said Conyers. "Their stories needed to be told so their lessons are not forgotten once the season ends and remain a cautionary tale for younger players and their parents. Their testimony demonstrated why those responsible for educating and protecting younger players must have a full understanding of this issue."

"I plan to hold this forum in Houston. Texas is a state that has enacted its own football head injury law known colloquially as ‘Will’s Bill.’ The Committee expects to hear from health experts and those involved in the administration of collegiate and high school sports."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said, "As a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, I welcome Chairman Conyers to Houston on this very vital topic. The opportunity to ensure that hard-charging sports like football are safe for our youth is of major importance to me and the Committee. We have seen lives wasted and lost because of sports injuries. I believe these hearings will have a significant and positive effect on how football injures are handled. I also look forward to highlighting work I am doing involving major league athletes helping to stop youth violence in collaboration with the Department of Justice."

The forum will take place on February 1, 2010, 1:00 p.m. Location TBA.