Will Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) Amend Deaflympics Into The Federal Sport Act?
This Thursday, the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations of the U.S. House Committee of Energy & Commerce will hold a hearing titled "Timeout: Evaluating Safety Measures Implemented to Protect Athletes."
The purpose of the hearing is “to evaluate safety measures implemented to protect athletes at all levels, from youth leagues to the Olympics and Paralympics,” according to the Committee website.
However, the U.S. House Committee of Energy & Commerce is principally responsible for legislative oversight of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC.)
I believe the Committee will hold more hearings regarding the Final Report of the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) in the coming months. (I noticed that none of the CSUSOP Commissioners is scheduled to testify at this Thursday’s hearing.)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (W.A.) chairs the full Committee and serves on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Since she decided not to run for re-election this year, we have wondered if she would do the last hurrah for our deaf athletes by amending the Deaflympics into the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
Rep. Rodgers has been a member of the Congressional Deaf Caucus for a long time.
Read my previous newsletter issue - Congressional Deaf Caucus (January 10, 2024.)
Among the 52 members of the Full Committee, Rodgers, Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, and Rep. Tony Cardenas of California are the only three who serve on the Congressional Deaf Caucus.
In 2013, Rep. Cardenas co-sponsored House Resolution 314, which would commend the United States Deaf Sports Federation for its efforts in sending athletes, coaches, and support staff to the 2013 Summer Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria. It would congratulate the members of the U.S. team representing the United States at the Deaflympics. Unfortunately, the resolution did not act after the House introduced it to the floor.
However, this resolution stated, “Whereas the Deaflympics are the world’s second oldest multiple sports games after the Olympics.
Historical Background:
On June 24, 2003, Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation presided over testimony regarding the ongoing efforts to reform the USO[P]C. He asked Dr. Harvey W. Schiller, former USO[P]C Executive Director, "Can you explain why the Paralympics should be part of the current USO[P]C structure, and why the Deaflympics remain excluded?"
Schiller testified:
"Recognizing that this is a continuing sensitive issue, it was our understanding that, based upon previous competitive opportunities, that the organization that represents the deaf athletes had adequate representation within the organization as it stands."
‘The Paralympics itself is the organization that determines which disabled sports are part of it or not, and as you know, there are continuing arguments as to the technical requirements that could allow and have allowed in the past deaf athletes, the hearing impaired, to perform and compete in regular competition, and we didn't see at this particular time any need to specifically identify that group."
One month later, on July 16, 2003, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives had a similar hearing. Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) questioned Kirk Bauer, then Executive Director of the Disabled Sports USA.
Mr. Stearns: Does the organization [Paralympics] you are talking about include people who cannot hear? Is that included in the disabled, hearing loss? Just yes or no.
Mr. Bauer: The Paralympic Games do not include athletes with a hearing impairment.
Mr. Stearns: But you indicated that a person with hearing loss is not part of your----
Mr. Bauer. It is part of the Olympic movement.
Mr. Stearns. But not part of your----
Mr. Bauer. The Federal legislation that established the USOC as the National Paralympic Committee deals with the Paralympics. (Note: Bauer referred to “The Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1998” (TSOASA.))
What Deaf Sport Leaders Said:
Frustrated president of the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USASDF), Bobbie Beth Scoggins, told ESPN in 2003:
“I have been to USO[P]C and disabled sports meetings, countless meetings where the Deaflympics was literally ignored, accorded only a nod as might be afforded to a stepchild. We were often isolated from the decision-making and funding process."
The U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce members should read the former President of the International Committee of the Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) Donalda Ammons's public comment to the CSUSOP.
"To achieve these environments, I resolutely believe it is necessary for Congress and the USOPC to establish funding mechanisms and implement structural reforms—including revising the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to insert the Deaflympics alongside the Olympics and the Paralympics so that Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans are better protected from abuse, mistreatment, and discrimination and are afforded equal access to the provisions of the Act as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The U.S. House Committee should need to know further why the current USADSF President Jeff Mansfield told the CSUSOP Commissioners in its hearing on September 6, 2023:
“However, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act makes no provision for the Deaflympics”
“While it is true that deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes can and do take part in the Olympics and Paralympics, the USOPC only tracks categories of disability that are covered under the Paralympics, and deafness is excluded.”
“Deaflympic medalists are also excluded from [USOPC] Operation Gold awards”
“I urge for the insertion of the Deaflympics into the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and to USOPC's mandate and for the investment in Deaflympians.”
“The Deaflympics has been around for almost 90 years, and it's a LEGITIMATE, global tournament with an opening ceremony, medals, and drug testing,” stated a one-time Deaflympian soccer player, Lindsey Dolich (Felt), in a 2008 interview with Deadspin (a sports blog).
My final question is, “Will Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers amend the Deaflympics into the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act for the sake of the future Deaflympians?
NOTE: As an old pro at Capitol Hill, I am writing this newsletter issue as a former USO[P]C-appointed member of the USO[P]C Handicapped in Sports Committee (1979-81). I have no connection with the USADSF on this matter.
Howard “Howie” Gorrell attended 13 of the last 14 Deaflympics since 1969 and is a 2004 recipient of the USADSF Jerald M. Jordan Award, given to those who exhibit leadership and continuous participation toward the goals of the Deaflympics and the 2011 Art Kruger Award for demonstrating leadership and constant participation, support and contribution in the USADSF over an extended period.