[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1085 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1085

   To provide for the revitalization of Olympic sports in the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2001

 Mr. Wellstone introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the revitalization of Olympic sports in the United 
                                States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Olympic Sports Revitalization Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Chapter 2205 of title 36, United States Code (commonly 
        referred to as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act), 
        requires the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to obtain 
        for the United States ``the most competent representation 
        possible in each event of the Olympic Games''.
            (2) A traditional route in the United States to 
        participation in the Olympic Games has been participation in 
        athletics at United States four-year colleges and universities.
            (3) United States four-year colleges and universities are 
        producing a much smaller number of participants in certain 
        sports of the Olympic Games than they have in the past. A 2001 
        report of the General Accounting Office entitled 
        ``Intercollegiate Athletics: Four-Year Colleges' Experiences 
        Adding and Discontinuing Teams'' reveals that, between 1981 and 
        1999, in five Olympic women's sports--gymnastics, fencing, 
        field hockey, archery, and badminton--and eleven Olympic men's 
        sports--wrestling, tennis, gymnastics, rifle/shooting, fencing, 
        outdoor track, swimming, skiing, ice hockey, water polo, and 
        archery--discontinuations of teams by such colleges and 
        universities have resulted in a net loss in the number of such 
        teams nationwide. The largest percentage loss in such teams 
        occurred in women's gymnastics (a 53 percent loss) and in men's 
        wrestling (a 40 percent loss). The report also indicates that 
        while the number of women participating in college athletics 
        increased between 1981 and 1999, the number of men 
        participating in college athletics in 1999 still significantly 
        exceeded the number of women participating in college athletics 
        in that year.
            (4) According to the report, such discontinuations stem 
        from declining student interest in the Olympic sports referred 
        to in paragraph (3) and from administrative decisions of 
        colleges and universities regarding the allocation of 
        resources.
            (5) While there has been a loss of teams at colleges and 
        universities in the Olympic sports referred to in paragraph 
        (3), three other Olympic sports, called ``Emerging Sports for 
        Women'' by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, have 
        yet to be fully established. These sports are team handball, 
        synchronized swimming, and equestrian. These sports merit 
        additional support if the USOC is to meet the basic requirement 
        referred to in paragraph (1).
            (6) Because the Olympic sports referred to in paragraphs 
        (3) and (5) tend not to generate revenue for colleges and 
        universities, such sports have little leverage in decisions of 
        colleges and universities about the allocation of their 
        resources for sports programs.
            (7) The discontinuation by colleges and universities of 
        teams in the Olympic sports referred to in paragraphs (3) 
        disrupts the amateur careers of athletes participating in such 
        sports and makes it more difficult for the USOC to fulfill one 
        of its primary missions.
            (8) In addition to the basic requirement referred to in 
        paragraph (1), the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act 
        also identifies other objectives of the USOC, including--
                    (A) that it ``assist organizations and persons 
                concerned with sports in the development of amateur 
                athletic programs for amateur athletes'';
                    (B) that it ``encourage and provide assistance to 
                amateur athletic activities for women''; and
                    (C) that it ``encourage and provide assistance to 
                amateur athletes of racial and ethnic minorities for 
                the purpose of eliciting the participation of such 
                minorities in amateur athletic activities in which they 
                are underrepresented''.
            (9) Due to a lack of public dissemination of data collected 
        by the Department of Education under the Equity in Athletics 
        Disclosure Act, prospective student-athletes often lack 
        information to determine what athletic opportunities colleges 
        and universities provide their students.
            (10) According the report referred to in paragraph (3), 
        colleges and universities often discontinue sports teams in a 
        manner that gives student-athletes no advance notice of 
        consideration of such discontinuations and no opportunity for 
        appeal of the decision--thereby disrupting the amateur careers 
        affected by such discontinuations.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to encourage United States 
representation in the events of the Olympic Games by--
            (1) promoting the revitalization of amateur athletics; and
            (2) encouraging amateur careers in athletics.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR SUPPORT OF CERTAIN AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

    (a) Authority.--Chapter 2205 of title 36, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports 
Act), is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

                    ``SUBCHAPTER III--MISCELLANEOUS

``Sec. 220541. Grants for support of certain amateur athletics
    ``(a) Authority To Make Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce may, 
from funds authorized to be appropriated by subsection (d), make grants 
to the corporation to provide funds for the purpose described in 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Purpose.--(1) The corporation shall use amounts received 
under subsection (a) for the purpose of encouraging participation in 
covered Olympic sports by individuals under 18 years of age, with 
particular emphasis on the participation in such sports of such 
individuals who have previously had limited opportunity for 
participation in such sports.
    ``(2) The corporation may use amounts so received for the purpose 
described in paragraph (1) directly or by making grants for that 
purpose to national governing bodies of covered Olympic sports 
recognized under subchapter II.
    ``(3) To the maximum extent practicable, participation in covered 
Olympic sports shall be encouraged under paragraph (1) through the 
establishment or support of appropriate community sports organizations.
    ``(c) Covered Olympic Sports.--For purposes of this section, a 
covered Olympic sport is as follows:
            ``(1) Women's gymnastics.
            ``(2) Women's fencing.
            ``(3) Women's field hockey.
            ``(4) Women's archery.
            ``(5) Women's badminton.
            ``(6) Women's team handball.
            ``(7) Women's synchronized swimming.
            ``(8) Women's equestrian.
            ``(9) Men's wrestling.
            ``(10) Men's tennis.
            ``(11) Men's gymnastics.
            ``(12) Men's rifle/shooting.
            ``(13) Men's fencing.
            ``(14) Men's outdoor track.
            ``(15) Men's swimming.
            ``(16) Men's skiing.
            ``(17) Men's ice hockey.
            ``(18) Men's water polo.
            ``(19) Men's archery.
            ``(20) Any other Olympic women's or men's sport determined 
        by the Secretary of Education to be--
                    ``(A) a sport in which the discontinuation of teams 
                in the sport by four-year colleges and universities in 
                the United States has resulted in a net decrease in the 
                number of college and university teams in the sport 
                nationwide; or
                    ``(B) an emerging sport.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby authorized 
to be appropriated for the Department of Commerce for purposes of 
activities under this section, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2002 through 2006.''.
    (b) Annual Report.--Section 220511 of that title is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``of Quadrennial Report'' after 
                ``Submission''; and
                    (B) by striking ``transmit'' and inserting 
                ``submit'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection (b):
    ``(b) Submission of Annual Report to President and Congress.--The 
corporation shall, on or before January 31 each year, submit 
simultaneously to the President and to each House of Congress a 
detailed report on its activities under section 220541 of this title 
during the preceding year.''; and
            (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``the report'' and inserting ``each report under this 
        section''.
    (c) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--(1) The section heading of 
section 220511 of that title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 220511. Reports''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of that chapter is 
amended--
            (A) by striking the item relating to section 220511 and 
        inserting the following new item:

``220511. Reports.''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following:

                    ``SUBCHAPTER III--MISCELLANEOUS

``220541. Grants for support of certain amateur athletics.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF OLYMPIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    Title XV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (Public law 
102-235) is amended by inserting after part E the following:

                ``PART F--OLYMPIC SPORTS REVITALIZATION

``SEC. 1544. OLYMPIC SPORTS REVITALIZATION.

    ``(a) Olympic Sports Revitalization.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education may provide 
        funds to the United States Olympic Committee, or the national 
        governing body of the sport concerned, for distribution to 
        institutions of higher education for disbursement to students 
        of such institutions who--
                    ``(A) participate in an intercollegiate athletic 
                program in an Olympic sport described in paragraph (4); 
                and
                    ``(B) are full-time students.
            ``(2) Distributions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The United States Olympic 
                Committee or the national governing body concerned 
                shall, from funds received under paragraph (1), make 
                distributions to institutions of higher education for 
                purposes of disbursements under paragraph (3) to 
                students of such institutions of higher education who 
                are described in paragraph (1). Each such distribution 
                shall be for purposes of students of the institution of 
                higher education concerned in one particular 
                intercollegiate athletic program described in paragraph 
                (1).
                    ``(B) Amount of distribution.--The aggregate amount 
                of the distribution under this paragraph for a 
particular intercollegiate athletic program may not be less than 
$100,000 or exceed $200,000.
                    ``(C) Allocation of distribution.--The amount of 
                the distribution under this paragraph shall be 
                allocated to the institution of higher education 
                concerned in equal portions over four years.
                    ``(D) Limitation on number of recipient athletic 
                programs.--No more than three intercollegiate athletic 
                programs of an institution of higher education may have 
                a distribution in effect under this paragraph at any 
                one time.
                    ``(E) Cancellation of athletic program.--
                Notwithstanding subparagraphs (B) and (C), if an 
                institution of higher education receiving a 
                distribution under this paragraph for an 
                intercollegiate athletic program cancels the program, 
                no further portion of the distribution may be allocated 
                to the institution of higher education under this 
                paragraph for the program.
            ``(3) Disbursements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An institution of higher 
                education receiving a distribution under paragraph (2) 
                with respect to an intercollegiate athletic program 
                shall disburse the distribution among full-time 
                students of the institution of higher education who are 
                participating in the intercollegiate athletic program.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The amount of the disbursement 
                to a student under subparagraph (A) may not exceed the 
                cost of educational expenses at the institution of 
                higher education concerned.
            ``(4) Olympic sports.--An Olympic sport described in this 
        paragraph is--
                    ``(A) women's gymnastics;
                    ``(B) women's fencing;
                    ``(C) women's field hockey;
                    ``(D) women's archery;
                    ``(E) women's badminton;
                    ``(F) women's team handball;
                    ``(G) women's synchronized swimming;
                    ``(H) women's equestrian;
                    ``(I) men's wrestling;
                    ``(J) men's tennis;
                    ``(K) men's gymnastics;
                    ``(L) men's rifle/shooting;
                    ``(M) men's fencing;
                    ``(N) men's outdoor track;
                    ``(O) men's swimming;
                    ``(P) men's skiing;
                    ``(Q) men's ice hockey;
                    ``(R) men's water polo;
                    ``(S) men's archery; and
                    ``(T) any other Olympic women's or men's sport 
                determined by the Secretary to be--
                            ``(i) a sport in which the discontinuation 
                        of teams in the sport by four-year colleges and 
                        universities in the United States has resulted 
                        in a net decrease in the number of college and 
                        university teams in the sport nationwide; or
                            ``(ii) an emerging sport.
    ``(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a distribution under 
subsection (a), an institution of higher education shall prepare and 
submit to the United States Olympic Committee or the national governing 
body of the sport concerned an application at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Committee or such 
body, as the case may be, may reasonably require.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2002 through 2006.''.

SEC. 5. REPORTING OF EQUITY IN ATHLETIC DISCLOSURE ACT DATA.

    Section 485(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1092(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (E); and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the 
                following:
            ``(D) The Secretary shall ensure that reports are 
        disseminated to the public under subparagraph (C) by means that 
        include the Internet and in a manner that is easily 
        understandable. Beginning in the year in which data for a 5-
        year period is available, such reports shall include 
        information on the 5-year trends in the data reported.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(F) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
        this paragraph, $1,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 
        2003.''.

SEC. 6. TEAM TERMINATION NOTIFICATION AND APPEAL REQUIREMENT.

    Part D of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1018 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 144. TEAM TERMINATION NOTIFICATION AND APPEAL REQUIREMENT.

    ``Effective on the date of enactment of this section, an 
institution of higher education that receives assistance under this Act 
shall not terminate funding for any intercollegiate sport, or reduce 
funding or participation levels to such an extent so as to effectively 
terminate such a sport, unless such institution provides to the members 
of the team participating in that sport--
            ``(1) a written statement of the justification for the 
        termination or reduction that includes the reasons relating to 
        why the termination is necessary; and
            ``(2) an internal process for appealing the termination.''.
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