Haley Stevens: “I believe the reforms in our bill today are necessary adjustments that will return the focus of the United States…”

“I believe the reforms in our bill today are necessary adjustments that will return the focus of the United States Olympic Committee to our original intent--our American athletes! The USOC Internal Taskforce and the Senate appointed Independent Commission did excellent jobs in reviewing the problems and offering solutions to the recent problems that have plagued the USOC. I thank the USOC Taskforce and the Independent Commission on the United States Olympic Committee for their hard work. S. 1404 includes many of the suggested changes from both groups. This is a good bill and I support all but one aspect of it. I cannot support and will work to remove the section that gives special consideration to the Senior Olympics. The only fundraising tool that Congress gave the USOC was the exclusive rights to the name, seals, emblems and badges of the USOC. The language that allows the Senior Olympics to use the Olympic symbols without the USOC permission will lead to the destruction of the fundraising ability of the USOC. Above all, the use of these symbols should not be subject to being 'licensed out' by any entity but the USOC.”