U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto cosponsored legislation to prevent sexual abuse of Olympic athletes.
The legislation would reform the U.S. Olympic Paralympic Committee in response to findings of systemic abuse. The Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019 would aim to help improve oversight at the United States Olympic Committee.
It’s the culmination of an 18-month investigation into sexual abuse in sports, prompted by the crimes of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
The legislation spells out the U.S. Paralympic Committee must give $20 million a year to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the organization set up to stop the sexual abuse of young athletes.
It also gives Congress the power to dissolve the USOPC board and fire staff. The legislation was sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jerry Moran.