Sunshine State News - Ros-Lehtinen, Curbelo Push Youth Sports Safety

By Kevin Derby

Two South Florida Republicans teamed up this week to showcase a resolution urging school districts, colleges and universities and various youth athletic associations to "regularly update their pre-participation physical examination policies, in accordance with evidence-based best practices, and with respect for special parental considerations."

Pointing to the deaths of young athletes across the nation, including Florida International University (FIU) baseball player Ramiro "Toti" Mendez back in 2000, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., brought out the proposal last month and looked to highlight it on Monday.

"The loss of any young person is tragic, but it is particularly unsettling to lose a child or young adult suddenly from a preventable cause when he or she is simply playing a beloved sport with friends and teammates," Ros-Lehtinen said. "We have an obligation as parents, as coaches, as trainers, and as legislators to ensure the safety of our student athletes in every aspect of sports competition, and I hope this resolution helps continue the conversation about how we can all work together to minimize the risk of injury and death in youth sports in South Florida and across the country."

"The passing of a child in any circumstance is heart breaking, but losing a child when he or she is participating in an activity that they love, that is supposed to be safe, is truly devastating," Curbelo said. "I am happy to co-lead this effort to help mitigate the risk of injury and death in young people who participate in youth sports. We can ensure the safety and health of student athletes, but only if we work together. My hope is that this resolution will serve to spark a dialogue that will help prevent these tragic deaths."

The resolution was sent to the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee last month.

The two South Florida Republicans also pointed to other proposals they have backed. Both Ros-Lehtinen and Curbelo cosponsored the "Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act" from U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., which lets physicians and trainers associated with teams "treat their own team's athletes while involved in official events in other states, without having to seek licensure or certification in those states to protect against civil or criminal malpractice liability issues."

Ros-Lehtinen also noted she backed U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello's, R-Penn., proposal "supporting the goals and ideals of the Secondary School Student Athletes' Bill or Rights -- which encourages high schools to take all available and reasonable efforts to ensure student athlete safety." Three other members of the Florida delegation--Republican Ander Crensahw and Democrats Corrine Brown and Alcee Hastings--are also sponsoring Costello's resolution.

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