[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 117 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    INTRODUCTION OF THE BASEBALL FANS AND COMMUNITIES PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______


                            HON. MIKE SYNAR

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, August 18, 1994

  Mr. SYNAR. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad and unfortunate fact that 
throughout our great Nation this summer baseball fans from Little 
Leaguers to the President are sorely disappointed that for the eighth 
time in eight negotiations major league players are on strike. While 
fans are disappointed, many others feel a real economic impact of the 
strike. Those communities that host major league teams have lost 
valuable jobs and millions in revenue because their major league 
stadiums have all been shuttered by the strike.
  To make matters worse, in the 2 weeks since the strike began, little 
progress in resolving the strike has been made and it appears that 
neither side seems intent on ending the strike any time soon. 
Frustrated fans sit on the sidelines and watch the remainder of the 
season dwindle away while the negotiations between players and owners 
stall.
  That is why I join today with Congressmen Bunning, Owens, and 
Bilirakis to introduce the Baseball Fans and Communities Protection 
Act. This legislation will apply the Federal antitrust laws to major 
league baseball in a manner designed to spur the now stagnant 
negotiations between the players and owners of major league baseball. 
This bill is specifically designed to allow the players to get back to 
the field while all parties to the strike have their rights and 
bargaining positions protected through the application of the antitrust 
laws.
  The current impasse between owners and players is that owners are 
committed to imposing a salary cap following the season and players 
feel the only way to negotiate on the imposition of the salary cap by 
the owners is to strike now, during the season, when their bargaining 
leverage is at a maximum. What the Baseball Fans and Communities 
Protection Act will do is allow the players to retake the field by 
giving them access to the rights and remedies of the antitrust laws 
from which major league baseball is currently exempt.
  I believe giving the players antitrust remedies will preserve their 
bargaining positioning during the upcoming negotiations without having 
to resort to a strike. This will allow all parties, players and owners, 
to sit down and bargain in good faith until an agreement that is 
satisfactory to both sides is reached. In the meantime, players can 
play ball.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation, and I 
look forward to its swift consideration by the House Judiciary 
Committee and the entire Congress.

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