'?nitrd Earning gamut WASHINGTON, DC 20510 January 31, 2017 Steve Penny President and CEO USA Gymnastics 132 E. Washington St., Suite 700 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Dear Mr. Penny: We found your response to our August letter regarding USA Gymnastics? handling of sexual abuse cases to be inadequate. In fact, since we received your letter, hundreds of additional sexual abuse victims have come forward to describe the horrors they endured while under the care of USA Gymnastics members. This has to stop, and we believe USA Gymnastics must do more than what has been publicly stated. We write to urge you to implement the attached changes to your policies, including mandatory reporting to law enforcement, to protect sex abuse victims who are in the care of USA Gymnastics members. If, in reviewing these proposed changes, you believe any changes in federal law are necessary to protect young athletes from sex abuse, we would welcome your input on any suggested legislation. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to hearing your response. Sincerely, 9 Wing,? 9m,? ianne Feinstein Patrick Leahy United States Senator United States Senator Richard Blumenthal 6 Donnelly United States Senator United States Senator 1) 2) 3) 4) Mandatory Reporting of Sexual Abuse Allegations: USA Gymnastics? current policy provides that the organization ?may? report sex abuse allegations to authorities when there is a risk to a young victim. Reporting sexual abuse where a victim?s safety is at issue should be mandatory. The policy should be that USA Gymnastics - including all member gymnasiums and facilities ?must? immediately refer all sex abuse allegations to authorities when a child victim?s safety is at risk. Victim-Centered Approach for Reporting Sexual Abuse: USA Gymnastics should make clear that a person making a sex abuse allegation as part of USA Gymnastics? internal complaint policy is not directed to ?rst attempt to resolve the allegation with the alleged abuser. The USA Gymnastics Code of Conduct provides that, ?under all but the most egregious circumstances, [complainants are] encouraged to ?rst address that concern directly to [the offending member coach].? It makes little sense for an alleged victim of sexual abuse by a coach to ?rst try to deal with the matter directly with the coach, and USA Gymnastics should make clear that is not its policy. Additionally, USA Gymnastics must establish a supportive framework for victims to come forward with their allegations, perhaps with an anonymous 24-7 hotline for individuals to report suspected abuse to a trained and vetted list of professionals who are familiar with properly handling sexual abuse complaints. The current bylaws provide only one way for a victim to make a complaint about a member through a written and signed complaint. The bylaws further specify that a complaint not formally filed in this way is rendered ?ineffective.? By limiting complaints to this singular method, many sex abuse victims may be reluctant to come forward to stop a perpetrator from continuing to work within USA Gymnastics? ranks. Stronger Procedures to Prevent Ongoing Abuse By Individuals Not Yet Criminally Convicted: Although USA Gymnastics? policies indicate that USA Gymnastics works to ensure that convicted (or previously sanctioned) sex offenders are removed from USA Gymnastics? ranks, USA Gymnastics can do more to prevent ongoing sex abuse committed by members who may not yet have been convicted of or found to have previously committed sex abuse. This can be done through more robust and regular training standards for adults and parents, immediate and robust attention to complaints, and strong relationships with law enforcement. Stronger procedures should also include principles commonplace in healthcare: for example, preventing adults who are not parents from spending time alone with a child. Oversight of All Adults Who Interact With USA vanastics Athletes: USA Gymnastics should make clear that any adult permitted to interact with a young athlete whether it be a volunteer or consultant should be subjected to the same screening, training, oversight, and accountability measures as USA Gymnastics members.