U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), both sponsors of the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act – legislation to reduce the risks of concussions in youth sports – commended the NFL for its recent announcement that it would begin to more strictly enforce rules forbidding dangerous hits on the field. Both lawmakers hope the NFL’s affirmed stance against dangerous hits will reduce serious injuries for professional players as well as student athletes from grade school through high school. As national leaders on providing resources to schools to implement best practices on concussion diagnosis and treatment, Congressman Pascrell and Senator Menendez released the following statements:

“This week's announcement by the NFL to increase penalties to include suspension of a player for helmet-to-helmet hits resulting in concussions is the latest evidence of changing attitudes in professional sports. I am heartened that the House's recent approval of the ConTACT Act to protect student athletes has been followed by the NFL's commitment to enforce its own rules to protect professional athletes,” said Pascrell, who shepherded the ConTACT Act to its passage in the House on Sept. 30. 

“Many young athletes aspire to join the ranks of their professional heroes. Just as the NFL is improving its practices to protect their professional athletes, I am glad that the NFL has endorsed the ConTACT Act to protect younger athletes as well. The NFL is sending a message to its players and fans, including younger athletes, that concussion-causing hits run counter to the American ideal of healthy competition.  It is my hope that as behaviors among the pros change, so will the behaviors of our young student athletes to make sports safer for all.”
 
“Illegal hits are more than just bad sportsmanship, they’re life-threatening and have no place in the NFL, NCAA, or high school and middle school sports for that matter,” Menendez said. "As a sponsor of legislation to help identify and reduce brain trauma in school sports, I applaud this action for the message it will send to our high school and middle school athletes, who play for fun, not a multimillion dollar paycheck. Too often, illegal hits are celebrated as ‘highlights’, which can encourage reckless play in school sports.  I’m pleased to see the NFL take a proactive role on this issue and hope it increases concussion awareness and fosters the coaching of proper technique -- from Pop Warner leagues to the NFL.” 

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