The Introduction of the Respect for Native Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Respect for Native Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015, a bill that would prohibit professional sports leagues that promote or allow a member club or franchise connected with that league to promote the use of the term ``Redskins'' from receiving an exemption from federal antitrust laws. The name has already been found to be disparaging by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in connection with its use by the National Football League's (NFL) Washington football team.

On June 18, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in a landmark decision (Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc.), found the name used by the Washington football team to be disparaging to Native Americans and not deserving of trademark protection, and canceled federal trademark protection for the ``Redskins'' name. This decision was most recently affirmed by a federal district court in July 2015.

The NFL is the nation's largest sports league, generating almost $10 billion annually. Under current federal law, the NFL is able to negotiate broadcast rights for the entire league instead of separately for each individual team without running afoul of federal antitrust laws. This exemption is a great benefit for smaller market teams, which would otherwise be unable to convince major networks to pay for or broadcast those games nationally and would significantly reduce revenue for these teams. My bill would deny this benefit to the NFL, and any professional sports league that uses the slur ``redskins'' as a team name or a promotional tool.

Federal antitrust laws should no longer offer substantial benefits to multibillion dollar leagues that profit from a name that has been officially found to be a racial slur, and is degrading to many Americans. This bill would revoke all federal antitrust exemptions for professional sports leagues that choose to continue to use the offensive and derogatory term ``Redskins.''

Over 300 tribes and two million Native Americans, as well as religious and human rights organizations, have called on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Daniel Snyder, the Washington football team owner, to change the team's name because it is an insult to indigenous people. In addition, several media outlets around the country no longer print or use the term ``Redskins'' when referring to the Washington football team because the term is offensive.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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