Dear Member of Congress:

We are Olympic & Paralympic athletes, athletes, coaches, sport leaders, sexual abuse survivors, and supporters writing to ask you to support immediate enactment of S. S.2330 – “Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019” without any weakening amendments.

On November 13, 2019 the Senate Commerce Committee approved this bill, a crucial step toward preventing future sexual abuse of our athletes. This bipartisan legislation combines important and necessary provisions developed by Senators Moran and Blumenthal to immediately reform the governance of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), along with creating a 16-member Commission. As pioneered by Senator Gardner and Congresswoman DeGette, the Commission is charged with further updating the 1978 Amateur Sports Act over a nine-month period.

During the markup, an effort was made to weaken the bill by eliminating section 4, a key feature that enshrines ongoing and effective Congressional oversight of the USOPC and its National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Doing so would have eliminated independent oversight, a crucial reform that must occur if we are going to tackle the problem of sexual abuse in the Olympic Movement. We strongly urge you to retain this important provision.

This legislation is sorely needed for a crucial reason; athlete abuse in Olympic & Paralympic sport is rampant and ongoing. It must stop. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has received over 4000 incidents of sexual abuse in just the three years of its existence. Sexual misconduct claims in U.S. Olympic & Paralympian sports rose 55 percent between 2018 and 2019, and included 2770 reports in 2019 alone. The Center for SafeSport, which is currently dramatically underfunded, is now receiving over 220+ reports of sexual abuse per month. We do not know how many reports of selection-tampering, of financial, emotional and physical abuse are being reported directly to the USOPC and NGBs. Yet NGBs are still stubbornly refusing to require their members to be trained in sexual abuse, grooming and appropriate boundaries between athletes and those who wield enormous control over them.1

Congress has held numerous hearings on sexual abuse in Olympic sports, but has yet to legislate a solution. Four major reports have detailed the USOPC’s governance failures,2 noting that USOPC Board has no constituency, no shareholders, no owners, no independent oversight, and certainly is not accountable to the athletes they are supposed to be serving. Every day of inaction, the abuse continues. It’s time to act with force and commitment! Please do everything in your power to enact this legislation as soon as possible, so that we can prevent future instances of sexual abuse of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and the millions with high aspirations.

Sincerely,

Olympians, Paralympians, Coaches and Elite Athletes:

Abby Johnston McGrath Olympian Annabelle Orme Olympian AJ Kitt Olympian Arlene Limas Olympian Allen James Olympian -Doussan Olympian Allison Baver Olympian August Wolf Olympian Allison Wagner Olympian Barb Weinstein McGrath Olympian Amber Campbell Olympian Barbara Ann Cochran Olympian Amy Gamble Olympian Barbara Ferries Henderson Olympian Andrea Miles Olympian Bart Conner Olympian Andrew Hermann Olympian Barbara Jordan Olympian Andrew Larkin Olympian Olympian

1 A jury in California ruled that USA was not negligent when it failed to train its members swimmers and families on sexual abuse and tell-tale signs of abusers “grooming” victims; the case involve a coach raping a 13 year-old swimmer. http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__78434/Title__USA-Swimming-sexual-abuse-victim-wins-the- war-in-a-contentious-court-battle/292/Articles 2 Ropes & Gray, Joan McPhee and James P. Dowden, “Report of the Independent Investigation: The Constellation of Factors Underlying Larry Nassar’s Abuse of Athletes,” December 10, 2018. Available at: https://www.nassarinvestigation.com -The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, “Nassar and Beyond: A Review of the Olympic Community’s Efforts To Protect Athletes from Sexual Abuse”, December 20, 2018. Available at: https://republicans-energycommerce.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EC-USOC-Report-12.20.18-Final- REV.pdf -The Borders Commission; An Independent Panel Chartered by the USOPC, July 2019. Available at: http://www.teamusa.org/-/media/TeamUSA/Documents/BC_FINAL_JULY2019_PDF.pdf -Senate Olympic Investigation, Senator Jerry Moran and Richard Blumenthal, “The Courage of Survivors; A Call to Action”, July 30, 2019. Available at: https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/c/2/c232725e-b717-4ec8- 913e-845ffe0837e6/FCC5DFDE2005A2EACF5A9A25FF76D538.2019.07.30-the-courage-of-survivors--a-call-to- action-Olympianmpics-investigation-report-final.pdf

Benji Durden Olympian Dominick Minicucci Olympian Bill Schuffenhauer Olympian Don Barcome Olympian Bill Stapleton Olympian Olympian BJ (Bedford) Miller Olympian Doug Lewis Olympian Cale Simmons Olympian Edie Morgan Olympian Carlo Grippo Olympian Edward Williams, J.D. Olympian Carlos Fernandez Olympian Eli Bremer Olympian Caroline Pingatore Holmes Olympian Elizabeth Bradley Olympian Carrie Sheinberg Olympian Eric Maleson Olympian Bates Olympian Erin Aldrich-Shean Olympian Casey Puckett Olympian Esther Lofgren Olympian Cathy Marino Olympian Felicia Zimmermann Olympian Cathy Turner Olympian Francie Kraker Goodridge Olympian Olympian Frederick H. Lowe Olympian Chantal Cermak Olympian Gary Anderson Olympian Cheryl A. Haworth Olympian Gary Gaudet Olympian Chip Knight Olympian Gary Hall, Jr. Olympian Chris Barlow Olympian Gary Hall, Sr. Olympian Chris Puckett Olympian Olympian Christine Witty Olympian George Mount Olympian Clarissa Gump Olympian Gloria Viseras Olympian Olympian Greg Barton Olympian Crissy Perham Olympian Greg Louganis Olympian Olympian Herman Ronald Frazier Olympian Dana Schoenfield Reyes Olympian Holley Mangold Olympian Olympian Inga Thompson Olympian David C. Berkoff, J.D. Olympian Ivan Smiljanic Olympian David Ennis, Jr. Olympian Jackie Edwards Olympian Debbie Meyer Weber Olympian James Galanes Olympian Deena D. Schmidt Olympian Jasna Rather Olympian Dennis Donahue Olympian Jason Scott Olympian Diana Gee Olympian Jay Bowerman Olympian Olympian Jeff Hastings Olympian Jeff Olson Olympian Lavonne Idlette Olympian Jeffrey R Klaiber Olympian Lea Ann Parsley Olympian Jemal Le Grand Olympian Loren H. Drum Olympian Jennie Reed Olympian Lucas Kozeniesky Olympian Jenny Arthur Olympian Lydia Murphy-Stephans Olympian Jim Henry Olympian Madeline Manning Mims Olympian Jim Miller Olympian Marcelo Arrue Olympian Joan Hansen-Lester Olympian Margaret Hogan Olympian Joe Jacobi Olympian Mark Henderson Olympian John Benedict Gordon Olympian Martina Navratilova Olympian John Caldwell Olympian Mary V. Harvey Olympian Jordin Andrade Olympian Michael Blatchford Olympian Joshua McAdams Olympian Michael Richardson-Bach Olympian Julie Goskowicz Koons Olympian Michele Eray Olympian June Boon Olympian Michele Smith Olympian Olympian Micki King Olympian Karin LaBerge Olympian Mike Holland Olympian Kathryn Keeler Olympian Tighe Olympian Kathy Johnson Clarke Olympian Molly Rossiter Olympian Katie Uhlaender Olympian Monica Abbot Olympian Keith Brantly Olympian Nancy Hogshead-Makar, J.D. Olympian Keith Frostad Olympian Nancy Swider-Peltz Olympian Keith Sanderson Olympian Nikki Dryden, J.D. Olympian Kelly Garrison Funderburk Olympian Norm Bellingham Olympian Ken Flax Olympian Paul Sparkes Olympian Kevin Young Olympian Philam Garcia Olympian Khoa Nguyen Olympian Phillip Sinnick Olympian Kiira Korpi Olympian Piotr Buciarski Olympian Olympian Randy Barnes Olympian Lewallen Olympian Reggie Crist Olympian Kyle Rasmussen Olympian Rick Earley Olympian Kyle Wieche Olympian Robert S. Rock, Jr. Olympian Laurel Iversen Olympian Robin Goad Olympian Laurie Lewis Olympian Rodney Dixon Olympian Olympian Olympian Livingstone Sam Michener Olympian Zara Northover Olympian Olympian and Scott Donie Olympian Arthur E. Stegen Coach Senator Ben Nighthorse Olympian and Olympian Billie Pat Winslow Connolly Campbell Coach Olympian and Shannon Happe Olympian Joan Hansen Coach Olympian and Sharon Ann Jewell Olympian Myriam Glez Coach Olympian Stacey Liapis-Fuchsgruber Olympian Sean O'Neill Paralympic Coach Olympian and Stacy Dragila Olympian Susan Teeter Coach Stephen Gough Olympian Allison Jones Paralympian Steven Gregg Olympian Anthony Zahn Paralympian Stewart Carr Olympian Dale Dedrick Paralympian Suzy Powell Roos Olympian Greta Neimanas Paralympian Tamara Crow deClercq Olympian Jean Driscoll Paralympian Tamara McKinney Olympian Jonathan Lujan Paralympian Taraje Williams-Murray Olympian Lee Ford Paralympian Olympian Michael Dickey Paralympian Terry Schroeder Olympian Robert Balk Paralympian Tiff Wood Olympian Sarah Will Paralympian Lalonde Olympian Tahl Leibovitz Paralympian Tim Dement Olympian Ted Fay Paralympian Todd Eldredge Olympian Arthur Gallanter Elite Athlete Todd Torres Olympian Aleksandra Piotrowska Elite Athlete Tom Lough Olympian Ali Fenn Elite Athlete Olympian Amy Saltzman Elite Athlete Stockwell Olympian Andy Hogshead Elite Athlete Victor Plata Olympian Andy Pittman Elite Athlete Victoria King, M.D. Olympian Ann Armstrong Elite Athlete Wendy Martin Olympian Anne Tweedy Elite Athlete Wendy Weinberg Weil Olympian Arely Garcia Elite Athlete Weston Seth Kelsey Olympian Barry J. Lee Elite Athlete Blake Beebe Elite Athlete Jasmine Yardley Elite Athlete Brett Perry Elite Athlete Jean Uyehara Elite Athlete Brian Gibbs Elite Athlete Jeff Smith Elite Athlete Brian Sunningham Elite Athlete Jennifer Spiegel Elite Athlete Calvin Sullins Elite Athlete Jenny Wong Elite Athlete Chic Dambach Elite Athlete Jessica Kelley Elite Athlete Chris Garrett-Petts Elite Athlete Joanna Rees Elite Athlete Christina Edstrom Elite Athlete John S. Whalen Elite Athlete Christine Loock, M.D. Elite Athlete Jonas Ecker Elite Athlete Cindy Eckert Elite Athlete Julie Swarts Elite Athlete Colleen Bolin Elite Athlete Keith Livingstone Elite Athlete Cullen Bullock Elite Athlete Kevin Montford Elite Athlete Dan Henderson Elite Athlete Kimberly Todd Elite Athlete Dana Loncar-Gakovic Elite Athlete Kristen Elechko Elite Athlete Daniel Robertson Elite Athlete Kristi Cumming Elite Athlete Darwin Cook Elite Athlete Laura Coffman Elite Athlete David Marks Elite Athlete Lauren C. Anderson Elite Athlete David Pole Elite Athlete Lauren Primerano Elite Athlete Deb Holthaus Elite Athlete Lawrence Libow Elite Athlete Deborah Mersino Elite Athlete Levi Kirkpatrick Elite Athlete Don Franken Elite Athlete Liane Daniels Elite Athlete Donna Wise Elite Athlete Linda Muri Elite Athlete Dustin Briley Elite Athlete Lyndall P. Heyer Elite Athlete Elizabeth Robinson Elite Athlete Margaret O'Rourke O'Grady Elite Athlete Eric Randall Johnson Elite Athlete Marie Clark Elite Athlete Eva Rodansky Elite Athlete Megan Andrew Elite Athlete Filiz Sevil Elite Athlete Michael Erin Flaherty Elite Athlete Franne Sippel Elite Athlete Michael Gminski Elite Athlete Fred Gerken Elite Athlete Michael J. Kenney Elite Athlete Heather Tolford Elite Athlete Michal Niemkiewicz Elite Athlete Heidi Standteiner Elite Athlete Michelle Sicard Edstrom Elite Athlete Heriberto Medina Elite Athlete Monica Fling Rowland Elite Athlete Ian Whatley Elite Athlete Pamela Boteler Elite Athlete Ivan Black Elite Athlete Perry Toles, J.D. Elite Athlete Polly Winde Elite Athlete Tricia Savitt Elite Athlete Rachael Bommicino Elite Athlete Uli Steidl Elite Athlete Rachael Presler Elite Athlete Victoria Fraga Elite Athlete Rachelle Brown Elite Athlete Victoria Picciochi Elite Athlete Ray Brown Elite Athlete William Crane Elite Athlete Elite Athlete and Renata Merino Elite Athlete Cheryl McLaughlin Coach Elite Athlete and Reyne B. Quackenbush Elite Athlete Carson Potter Coach Elite Athlete and Rick Granquist Elite Athlete Elisa Moore Coach Elite Athlete and Robert West Elite Athlete Jacqueline A. Brummer, J.D. Coach Elite Athlete and Ryan Grady Elite Athlete John Jayner Coach Elite Athlete and Sarah Pettit Elite Athlete Michael Roth Coach Elite Athlete and Scott Greifenberger Elite Athlete Michelle Till Coach Elite Athlete and Shaun Koos Elite Athlete Robin Penoyer Coach Elite Athlete and Sheila A. Roesler Elite Athlete Sam Collins Coach

Shelley Carlisle Elite Athlete Alison Wade Coach

Sommer Bell Elite Athlete Ayse Sukola Coach

Stephanie Adelson Elite Athlete Caleb King Coach

Steve Porino Elite Athlete Carl Archer Coach

Summer Pierson Elite Athlete Carl Cepuran Coach

Susan Lynn Cooke Elite Athlete Catherine Caddell Coach

Susan J Roy Elite Athlete Chandelle Schulte Coach

Thomas Konecny Elite Athlete Charles Howe Coach

Tim Cronin Elite Athlete Cheryl Sistare Coach

Trey Jackson Elite Athlete Colleen Hacker Coach

Corey Von Allmen Coach Peter Dodge Coach

Dia Rianda Coach Randall Huntington Coach

Diana McLaughlin Coach Randall Scott Dunn Coach

Digit Murphy Coach Coach

Edith Rowland Coach Rebecca Carlson Coach

Frank E. Thomas Coach Rebecca McConville Coach

Gary Martin Coach Sarah E. Lesko Coach

Genadijus Sokolovas Coach Scott Bennett Coach

Heather Minnick Coach Shaun Caven Coach

Holly K. Tyra Coach Stella Cashman Coach

Jaime Lapides Coach Stephanie Ross Coach

James Barnes Coach Steve Breiter Coach

Joana Goncalves Coach Thomas Maloney Coach

John Carroll Coach Tracy Sundlun Coach

John McMurtry Coach Will Sweetser Coach

Julianne Vasichek Coach William Aney Coach

Ken Groce Coach William Phelps Coach

Kyle Ellis Coach Zsolt Szadovszki Coach

Lauren Hatmaker Coach

Laurie Porter Coach

Margaret Haslach Coach

Martha (Mickey) McNeil Coach

Pat Tobin Coach

Athletes Abused in Olympic Movement:

Abigail Buckley Survivor Melissa Merson Survivor Elite Athlete and Anita Talevski Survivor Michele Greenfield Survivor

Carol Downey Survivor Newt Scatchard Survivor

Caren McKay Survivor Nicole Boylan Survivor

Charmaine Carnes Survivor Olivia Venuto Survivor

Elite Athlete and Chris Riegel Patrick Keenan Survivor Survivor

Christy Heiskala Survivor Samantha Smith Survivor

Dani Bostick Survivor Sara E Teristi Survivor

Danielle Moore, Psy.D. Survivor Sarah Ehekircher Survivor

Debra Denithorne Elite Athlete and Shari Botwin Survivor Grodensky Survivor Elite Athlete and Diana Nyad Shenea Booth Survivor Survivor Survivor and Sport Elite Athlete and Grace French Sarah Powers Barnhard Leader Survivor

Janet Gnann Survivor Steven Edmonds Survivor Elite Athlete and Elite Athlete and Jessica Armstrong Suzette Moran Survivor Survivor

Jody Zajac Survivor Tracy Palmero Survivor

Judy Vial Survivor Julie Hayden Survivor Elite Athlete and Kathleen Rogness Survivor Katie Kelly Survivor Kristen Maheu Survivor Larissa Boyce Survivor Laura Rainey Survivor Elite Athlete and Louise Harder Survivor Elite Athlete and Mandy Meloon Survivor Sport Leaders and Child Protection Professionals:

Sport Leader - Abbie Newman, R.N., J.D. Katherine Redmond Sport Leader Child Protection Elite Athlete and A.J. Richard Sport Leader Kimberly Hadley Sport Leader Sport Leader; Sport Leader and Alexander Juschus, LL.M. Luli Hemmingsen, J.D. Lawyer for Survivor Athletes Andrew Zimbalist, Ph.D. Sport Leader Mara Gubuan Sport Leader Elite Athlete and Sport Leader - Anne E. Flannery Marci Hamilton, J.D. Sport Leader Child Protection B. David Ridpath, Ph.D. Sport Leader Mark Conrad, Ph.D. Sport Leader Elite Athlete and Becky Clark, Ph.D. Paralympic Sport Marty Sonnenfeldt Sport Leader Leader Bill Farrar Sport Leader Michael A. Messner, Ph.D. Sport Leader Charles Foster Sport Leader Mike Jacki Sport Leader Charles (Chuck) Milam Sport Leader Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D. Sport Leader Sport Leader; Daniel Barker, J.D. Lawyer for Patricia Rodowsky Sport Leader Survivors David Berri, Ph.D. Sport Leader Peter Vint Sport Leader Donna A. Lopiano, Ph.D. Sport Leader Richard T. Karcher, J.D. Sport Leader Edward J. Vasquez Sport Leader Rick Paine Sport Leader Ellen J. Staurowsky, Ph.D. Sport Leader Rob Koehler Sport Leader Sport Leader; Gail Royce Sport Leader Robert Allard, J.D. Lawyer for Survivors Jared L. Book Sport Leader Robert Andrews Sport Leader Sport Leader; Elite Athlete and Jennifer Freeman, J.D. Lawyer for Sally Roberts Sport Leader Survivors Jill Yesko Sport Leader Terri Lakowski Sport Leader John Hoskins Sport Leader Joan Steidinger, Ph.D. Sport Leader Elite Athlete and Jon Little, J.D. Lawyer for Survivors Joseph R. King, CNP Sport Leader

Judge Presiding over the Larry Nassar Sentencing

The Honorable Judge Rosemarie Aquilina

Organizations: Organization - Mission Kids Child Advocacy Organization - Child USAdvocacy Child Protection Center Child Protection California Women's Law Organization - Organization - WiSP Sports Center Sport Leader Sport Leader Organization – Organization - Champion Women The Army of Survivors Athlete Advocates Athlete Rights Organization - Equality League Sport Leader

Supporters: Alejandra Flores Supporter Cathy Peacock Supporter Alice Hanan Supporter Cathy S. Griffin Supporter Alicia Grant Supporter Cherise McCrea Supporter Alison Kenney Supporter Chris Green Supporter Amelia Gabrielle Ferries Supporter Chris Johnson Supporter Andie Hamm Supporter Christina Dull Supporter Andrew Kucera Supporter Clint Wattenberg Supporter Andrew Reynolds Supporter Cynthia Yorgason Supporter Anita Jackson Supporter David Tuchler Supporter Anne DeMartini Supporter Debbie Williams Supporter Arthur Pincus Supporter Dionne Koller Supporter Ben Chrischilles Supporter Donna Stelling Supporter Bob Babbitt Supporter Doug Kaufman Supporter Brandon Hightower Supporter Doug Massey Supporter Brenda Barrera Supporter Ed Semansky Supporter Brenda Johnson Supporter Elsy Chavez Supporter Brian Baker Supporter Eric Bjerke Supporter Briget Lanktree Supporter Eric Laurie Supporter Camille Clarson Supporter Espirito Meller Supporter Carolyn Baker Supporter Gary Geiger Supporter Glenn Steimling Supporter Kim Balderson Supporter Heather Bailie Supporter Kimberly Tankersley Supporter Helen Giallombardo Supporter Kimrey W. Rhinehardt Supporter Howard Hogshead, M.D. Supporter KL Finocchio Supporter Ivy S. Bell Supporter Lacy Johnson Supporter Izabela Lundberg Supporter Larry Cleveland Supporter Janet Hogshead Supporter Laura Garst Supporter Janine Kuestner Supporter Laurie Shimko Supporter Jay William Allred Supporter Leon Tom Supporter Jayson Warsuma Supporter Linda Leffel, M.D. Supporter Jeannie Hansen Supporter Lisa Africk Supporter Jeff Foltz Supporter Lori Richerson Supporter Jeffrey Allen Blair Supporter Lorraine Lettieri Supporter Jerry Hogshead Supporter Mardeen Libby Supporter Jetta Bernier Supporter Margaret Coulombe Supporter Jill Feldbaum Supporter Margaret McMorrow Supporter Joan Pollak Supporter Mariann Szucs Supporter Joan Steidinger Supporter Margo Riddle Supporter Jodie Denithorne Supporter Marianne Sims Supporter Jody Witty Supporter Mark Dobbertien Supporter Joe Cygan Supporter Mark Kosminskas Supporter Joemarie Rodriguez Supporter Mary Ellen Alexander Supporter John Cole Supporter Mary Fowler Supporter John Holthaus Supporter Mary Gillman Supporter John E. Hopper Supporter Matt Mckay Supporter Julia Painter Supporter Matthew Hodler Supporter Judity Rabinor Supporter Matthew Korahais Supporter Justin Loss Supporter Meredith Briski Supporter Karen Belding Supporter Merrie Irwin Supporter Kathryn L Kasprzak Supporter Michael Burrows Supporter Keith Johnson Supporter Michael Salamon, M.D. Supporter Kelli Brooks Supporter Nancy Anderson Supporter Keri Garcia Supporter Nancy Moon Supporter Kenneth William Mendoza Supporter Nicole Leonard Supporter Noah Perlis Supporter Pamela Miles Supporter Pamela Noakes Supporter Phyllis A. Love, Ph.D. Supporter Rachel Baer Supporter Rebecca Fahey Supporter Rebecca Payette Supporter Renee Bunker Supporter Richard Englehart Supporter Richard Johnson Supporter Robert Kafes Supporter Robert Putnam Supporter Roy Van Eick Supporter Ryan Blanck Supporter Sam Kittle Supporter Sandy Thompson Supporter Sara McDonald Supporter Sharon Love Supporter Sheila Haworth Supporter Shelly Kummings Supporter Sophie Moore Supporter Stephen Ciattei Supporter Stephanie Harris Supporter Stephen Proudman Supporter Steven Karageanes, DO Supporter Sue Peterson Supporter Susan Grodensky Supporter Susan Mien Supporter Suzanne Eife Supporter Theresa Tiso Supporter Tracye Polson Supporter Vikki Krane Supporter Wayde Quisenberry Supporter