Jim Bunning: “today I and some of my colleagues, in a bipartisan effort, introduced the Integrity in Professional Sports Act. I…”

“today I and some of my colleagues, in a bipartisan effort, introduced the Integrity in Professional Sports Act. I especially thank my colleague from Arizona, Senator John McCain, for working with me on this important legislation. I thank the chairman of the Commerce Committee, Senator Stevens, and Senators Grassley and Rockefeller, for cosponsoring our bill. This is certainly not a bill any of us wanted to introduce. We wish Congress did not have to get involved in the issue of drug abuse in professional sports. Unfortunately, this might be the only way to get professional sports to finally clean up its act. As a former major league baseball player and member of its Hall of Fame, protecting the integrity of our national pastime is a matter near and dear to my heart. I know it is near and dear to the hearts of so many across America. We have heard a lot of talk over the last year about the leagues working to implement new, tougher drug-testing standards. So far, that is all it has been, a lot of talk. Major League Baseball and its baseball union told us over a month ago they hoped to have a new agreement in place by the end of the World Series. The World Series is over and there is still no agreement. The time for talking is over. The leagues have had their chance and have failed to lead. Now we are going to do it for them. We are, in a way, obligated to act since they cannot.…”