[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7983]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF ATHLETES IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL 
                                 LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE GARCIA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2013

  Mr. GARCIA. Mr. Speaker, like most Americans, there are few things 
that I enjoy more than a Sunday tailgate with friends and family. 
Football and the NFL are an intricate part of our nation's cultural and 
social fabric.
  Football is America's favorite sport because it is exciting to watch, 
but that excitement--the clashing of helmets and tackles--takes a 
terrible toll on the bodies of our nation's athletes and on their 
families.
  A recent study from the American Academy of Neurology found that NFL 
players are four times more likely than the general U.S. population to 
die from Alzheimer's or ALS.1 This is only the latest piece in a body 
of evidence showing that the risks of repetitive head impacts, if not 
properly treated, can be severe and irreversible.
  The scientific research, which shows a link between concussions and 
long-term injury to NFL athletes--is incontrovertible. And so, I call 
upon the NFL to do everything in its power to protect its athletes and 
warn them of long-term dangers to their mental and neurological well-
being.
  Far too many of our nation's favorite athletes have paid a terrible 
price for the brain trauma they sustained while playing in the NFL.
  After taking his own life last May, Junior Seau, a former Miami 
Dolphin and one of the top linebackers in NFL history, was diagnosed 
with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive and 
debilitating disease associated with repeated head trauma. When asked 
whether the game the whole family loved was worth it, Seau's oldest son 
Tyler tearfully replied: ``I'm not sure. But it's not worth it for me 
to not have a dad. So to me, it's not worth it.''
  While the NFL has taken some positive steps regarding the safety of 
current players, we need it to take the necessary action to mitigate 
the risks of debilitating brain injury. Last season we saw high-profile 
players being sent back onto the field immediately after sustaining 
concussions. This is unsustainable and unfair to athletes and their 
families. It is also unfair to taxpayers. As a 2008 congressional 
research services report revealed, when our athletes cannot afford to 
address their injuries, the cost falls upon the taxpayers.
  The NFL has the power not only to give these former players and their 
families the care and support they deserve, but also to ensure that the 
game is safer for future generations. As a Member of Congress, and most 
importantly, as a football fan, I ask that the NFL make use of that 
power.

                          ____________________