[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANTORUM (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Allen, Mr. Bingaman, 
        Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burns, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, 
        Ms. Collins, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
        Grassley, Mr. Hagel, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, 
        Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lugar, 
        Mr. Miller, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, 
        Mr. Sessions, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Talent, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
        Stevens, and Mr. Bennett):
  S. 2852. A bill to provide assistance to Special Olympics to support 
expansion of Special Olympics and development of education programs and 
a Healthy Athletes Program, and for other purposes; read the first 
time.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Special 
Olympics Sports Empowerment Act. I am very pleased that Senator Reid 
has joined me in introducing this legislation to authorize $15 million 
for Special Olympics programs. We are also joined by 31 other 
cosponsors, both Republican and Democrat, conservative, moderate, and 
liberal, demonstrating the wide range of support for this legislation.
  According to the World Health Organization, there are 170 million 
individuals with mental retardation worldwide. Up to 7 million of these 
individuals live in the United States. Unfortunately, these individuals 
tend to have much shorter lives--by 10-20 years--in most countries. In 
developed countries, there is still significant preventable morbidity, 
pain and suffering. This population is also generally underemployed, 
stigmatized and many experience violence or abuse at some point in 
their lives.
  Thirty-six years ago, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who had already 
been working for years with individuals with intellectual disabilities, 
founded Special Olympics. In July 1968, Special Olympics held its first 
games in Chicago, hosting 1,000 athletes. Over the years, Special 
Olympics has continued to serve many individuals with intellectual 
disabilities around the world by providing year-round sports training 
and competitive opportunities. Special Olympics now serves over 1.5 
million individuals with intellectual disabilities, their families and 
communities.
  Special Olympics recognizes the value and dignity of every life. As 
well as providing children and adults with intellectual disabilities 
with the opportunity of athletic training and competition, these 
programs provide participants with health screenings using the donated 
time of voluntary health care providers. In addition, they help to 
improve awareness throughout the world of the abilities and unique 
contributions that individuals with intellectual disabilities can make, 
thus helping to dispel negative stereotypes.
  The Special Olympics Sports Empowerment Act will aid an organization 
that is already hard at work in assisting and providing affirmation to 
these individuals and their families. It does this by, for the first 
time, authorizing funding for Special Olympics over 5 years. It 
authorizes $15 million in fiscal year 2005, and such sums as necessary 
each year through fiscal year 2009. This bill recognizes the success 
Special Olympics has had, will ensure that their funding is more 
stable, and will help Special Olympics to continue to increase the 
number of athletes and families they serve each year.
  I am pleased to be sponsoring this legislation and to have the 
support of so many of my colleagues. I am hopeful that the Senate and 
House will act to pass this legislation during the 108th Congress.
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