United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 172) to reauthorize the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 172.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 172, the United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act of 2021.

For two decades, Mr. Speaker, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, has worked to ensure integrity in our American Olympic and Paralympic sporting activities through the promotion and support of drug-free competition.

Recommended by an Olympic committee task force, this independent organization was established to manage a comprehensive anti-doping program in the United States. And since its authorization in 2000, USADA has helped to advance clean sports through scientific research, anti-doping education, and outreach programs.

To ensure USADA can continue this good work, H.R. 172 would extend and increase the authorization level through fiscal year 2030. Further, this bill would empower USADA to encourage a positive sporting environment for young athletes by providing educational materials on sportsmanship, character building, and healthy performance.

The bill also improves anti-doping efforts in the U.S. by encouraging Federal agencies to coordinate and share information with USADA to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs and methods.

Taken together, these actions will make positive improvements to the good work that USADA is already doing and provide critical support as

we lead up to the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

I want to thank my colleagues, Representatives Mike Thompson, Diana DeGette, and Bill Johnson for leading this important bipartisan legislation. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Rodgers and all the members and staff of our committee for their efforts to move this legislation forward in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) who is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I urge support for the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in support of H.R. 172, the United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Representatives Mike Thompson, Bill Johnson, and Diana DeGette.

This bill will reauthorize the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, which is the national entity charged with administering anti-doping programs in the United States for Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Parapan American sports.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency handles in-competition and out-of- competition testing, results management processes, drug reference resources, and athlete education for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee-recognized sport national governing bodies, their athletes, and events.

USADA is also the administrator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship Anti-Doping Program.

Reauthorizing this important agency will further the advancement of clean sports, fair games, and positive sportsmanship.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill. We will be hearing from one of my colleagues here in a moment, a colleague on the committee, Bill Johnson.

I also want to thank the chairman for working together to get this done today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), a colleague and leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act.

I thank my colleague, Representative Thompson, for his hard work to get this important legislation across the finish line; and I thank Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers for yielding time.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, has worked hard to ensure that our athletic programs are the best in the world, and also the cleanest. Critical to maintaining that success is ensuring our athletes are competing fairly, without the use of performance-enhancing drugs, which is why I have introduced the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act.

USADA must have the resources it needs to ensure the integrity of its programs and advance the American values of sportsmanship and playing by the rules on the global stage.

In addition to funding the agency, this legislation adds a special focus on clean sport training for young athletes and their coaches, and enables USADA to better coordinate with Federal law enforcement.

With the Olympics and other international sporting events just around the corner, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 172, bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA.

Since 2001, USADA has been recognized by Congress as the official anti-doping agency for Olympic, Paralympic, and other sporting competitions in the United States.

The organization conducts drug testing for athletes, manages test results, and pursues bad actors who seek to undermine the principles of clean and fair support through the use of illicit or banned substances.

This important legislation reauthorizes USADA through fiscal year 2030 and provides a slight funding boost to allow USADA to prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

In addition, this legislation requires USADA to devote a portion of its funding to clean sport initiatives for young athletes and authorizes the Department of Justice and other Federal agencies to cooperate with USADA in the course of its investigations.

I am grateful to my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing this legislation to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.