[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 130 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RESPECT FOR NATIVE AMERICANS IN PROFESSIONAL 
                           SPORTS ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Respect for Native 
Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015, a bill that would 
prohibit professional sports leagues that promote or allow a member 
club or franchise connected with that league to promote the use of the 
term ``Redskins'' from receiving an exemption from federal antitrust 
laws. The name has already been found to be disparaging by the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office in connection with its use by the 
National Football League's (NFL) Washington football team.
  On June 18, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in a 
landmark decision (Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc.), found the name 
used by the Washington football team to be disparaging to Native 
Americans and not deserving of trademark protection, and canceled 
federal trademark protection for the ``Redskins'' name. This decision 
was most recently affirmed by a federal district court in July 2015.
  The NFL is the nation's largest sports league, generating almost $10 
billion annually. Under current federal law, the NFL is able to 
negotiate broadcast rights for the entire league instead of separately 
for each individual team without running afoul of federal antitrust 
laws. This exemption is a great benefit for smaller market teams, which 
would otherwise be unable to convince major networks to pay for or 
broadcast those games nationally and would significantly reduce revenue 
for these teams. My bill would deny this benefit to the NFL, and any 
professional sports league that uses the slur ``redskins'' as a team 
name or a promotional tool.
  Federal antitrust laws should no longer offer substantial benefits to 
multibillion dollar leagues that profit from a name that has been 
officially found to be a racial slur, and is degrading to many 
Americans. This bill would revoke all federal antitrust exemptions for 
professional sports leagues that choose to continue to use the 
offensive and derogatory term ``Redskins.''
  Over 300 tribes and two million Native Americans, as well as 
religious and human rights organizations, have called on NFL 
Commissioner Roger Goodell and Daniel Snyder, the Washington football 
team owner, to change the team's name because it is an insult to 
indigenous people. In addition, several media outlets around the 
country no longer print or use the term ``Redskins'' when referring to 
the Washington football team because the term is offensive.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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