[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING YOUTH SPORTS SAFETY MONTH 2012

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                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2012

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Youth Sports 
Safety Month and the work of the National Youth Sports Health & Safety 
Institute, NYSHSI. NYSHSI was formed in the fall of 2011 through a 
partnership between the American College of Sports Medicine and Sanford 
Health. I am pleased to serve as an honorary member of the Institute's 
Leadership Board. NYSHSI is dedicated to leading and advocating for the 
advancement and dissemination of the latest research and evidence-based 
education, recommendations and policy to enhance the experience, 
development, health and safety of our youth in sports. The need for 
this commitment is underscored by a recent poll that shows 91 percent 
of Americans feel sports participation is important for children and 
adolescents, and 94 percent feel more needs to be done to ensure the 
health and safety of youth athletes. These concerns have been fueled by 
reports of widespread escalating prevalence of exertional heat illness, 
concussion, and overuse, as well as other consequences and hazards of 
sports unnecessarily harming the health of our youth. I look forward to 
all the great work that is planned over the next year and beyond, 
beginning with NYSHSI's initial focus on these four key areas of 
emphasis: Sports Trauma, Environment, Overload/Overuse, Chronic Disease 
& Disabilities.
  As Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Youth 
Sports, I believe the work of NYSHSI is extremely important to the 
youth of America participating in sport and as a complement to the 
mission and goals of the Caucus. During Youth Sports Safety Month and 
throughout the rest of the year, our young athletes urgently need 
leadership from NYSHSI, their peer organizations, and Members of 
Congress, so that youth sports in America can be fun, healthy and safe.

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