Senate Committee Advances Gardner’s Bill to Reevaluate US Olympic Committee

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Gardner’s (R-CO) legislation to establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics was approved today by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

NOTE: Click here or the picture above to view Senator Gardner’s remarks.

“Today my bipartisan legislation to evaluate the structure of the United States Olympic Committee was approved by the Commerce Committee. This common-sense bill would create a 16-member commission, half of whom would be Olympians or Paralympians, to examine what’s working and what’s not and report back to Congress with their findings, conclusions, recommendations, and any suggested policy changes,” said Senator Gardner. “In Colorado we are proud of our Olympic City, Colorado Springs, and all that our Olympic athletes mean to our great state. But we know that we can do better. This will help the U.S. Olympic Committee’s presence in Colorado grow even stronger and make sure we do a better job looking out for the futures of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes.”

Under this legislation, Congress would establish a 16-member commission, all of whom would be required have experience in athletics, advocacy, or coaching, and half of which would be comprised of Olympians or Paralympians. The Commission would study the structure of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and determine whether or not the USOC board includes diverse membership, existing licensing and funding arrangements, oversight of sports' National Governing Bodies, and the recruitment of the Olympics and Paralympic games to the United States, along with other duties.

The Commission would need to submit a final report to Congress with their findings, conclusions, recommendations, and any suggested policy changes.

Timeline: 

• January 2019: Gardner introduced legislation to establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics.
• June 2019: Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduces companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
• June 2019: Gardner, Rep. Diana DeGette, and Judge Rosemarie Aquilina – who presided over the sentencing of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar – and nearly a dozen former Olympic athletes held a press conference in Denver to discuss Gardner and DeGette’s legislation.

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Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.