Senator Jay Rockefeller announced Friday he will convene a Senate hearing on Dec. 2 to entitled “Addressing Domestic Violence in Professional Sports,” a topic that has captured national attention in the wake of the abuse scandals involving NFL players Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and others.
Rockefeller, a Democrat representing West Virginia, is chairman of the Senate’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. A press release from the committee says the hearing will examine the current policies of the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
A baseball spokesman confirmed to the Daily News Friday that a representative from Major League Baseball would attend the Dec. 2 hearing. Spokespersons from the other three professional leagues – NFL, NBA and NHL – did not immediately return emails from The News.
“The hearing will examine how those policies deter violent acts, promote awareness, provide due process, and punish those who commit acts of domestic violence,” the committee’s announcement says. “The hearing will also examine future policies that are being considered for implementation.”
Congressional hearings into the policies and culture of American sports have historically produced significant changes in the way leagues are run. In 2005 and 2008, the House Oversight Committee’s probe of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball led the league to implement the most serious anti-doping program in professional sports.
SOURCE: NATHANIEL VINTON with Christian Red
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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