Johnson & Tonko Statement on House and Senate Passage of the Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act

Press Release

By Dan Schneider

Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) & Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) issued the following statement after the House and Senate passed S. 2338, the United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act. Both Representative Johnson and Representative Tonko introduced the companion bill (H.R.5614) in the House.

"I'm thankful to have worked on this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Tonko. It's important that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) be reauthorized to ensure a level playing field for athletes to compete in the various sports organizations under its administration, and to continue its mission to educate America's youth on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs. I encourage President Obama to sign this legislation as soon as possible," Bill Johnson said.

"I am pleased that we were able to get this legislation passed and help our children's role models lead by example and live their lives with healthy bodies and minds. I thank Congressman Johnson for his leadership on this issue and I look forward to seeing this become law," added Representative Tonko.

The USADA was first established in 2000 by the U.S. Olympic Committee to combat doping across the roughly 50 national sports organizations under its jurisdiction. S. 2338 reauthorizes the USADA to ensure that the agency continues testing for performance enhancing drugs, sanctions those who cheat, educates young athletes, and develops new testing for performance enhancing drugs. The legislation now heads to President Obama's desk for his signature.

Source