III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 507 Supporting Minor League Baseball. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 27, 2020 Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. BROWN, Mr. MANCHIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. ERNST, Ms. WARREN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. KAINE, and Mr. COTTON) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Supporting Minor League Baseball. Whereas, each season for 15 consecutive years, more than 40,000,000 fans have attended a Minor League Baseball game; Whereas Minor League Baseball provides wholesome, afford- able entertainment in 160 communities throughout the United States; Whereas, in 2018, Minor League Baseball clubs— (1) donated more than $45,000,000 in cash and in- kind gifts to the communities in which those clubs were located; and (2) completed more than 15,000 volunteer hours; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:08 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR507.IS SR507 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 507 IS Whereas the economic stimulus and development provided by Minor League Baseball clubs extends beyond the cities and towns where Minor League Baseball games are played to a wide range of diverse geographic areas in which 80 percent of the people of the United States are located; Whereas Minor League Baseball is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion through— (1) the Copa de la Diversio´n initiative; (2) the MiLB Pride initiative; (3) the Fostering Inclusion through Education and Leadership Development Program (commonly known as the ‘‘FIELD Program’’); and (4) the Women in Baseball Leadership initiative; Whereas Minor League Baseball is the first touchpoint with the ‘‘national pastime’’ for millions of youth, and the only touchpoint for youth located in communities far from cit- ies in which Major League Baseball clubs are located; Whereas Congress has enacted numerous statutory exemp- tions and immunities to preserve and sustain— (1) a system for Minor League Baseball; and (2) the relationship between Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball; Whereas the proposed abandonment of 42 Minor League Baseball clubs by Major League Baseball would devastate communities, bond purchasers, and other stakeholders that rely on the economic stimulus that those Minor League Baseball clubs provide; Whereas Minor League Baseball facilities not only house the affiliated team, but also serve as venues for community events and other sporting competitions; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:08 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR507.IS SR507 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 507 IS Whereas Minor League Baseball clubs enrich the lives of mil- lions of people in the United States each year through economic, social, cultural, and charitable contributions; and Whereas the preservation of Minor League Baseball clubs in 160 communities across the United States is in the pub- lic interest, as those clubs will continue to provide afford- able, family-friendly entertainment to those communities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the preservation of Minor League 2 Baseball clubs in 160 communities across the United 3 States; 4 (2) recognizes the unique social, economic, and 5 historical contributions that Minor League Baseball 6 has made to the lives and culture of the people of 7 the United States; and 8 (3) encourages the continuation in 160 commu- 9 nities across the United States of the 117-year foun- 10 dation of Minor League Baseball through the contin- 11 ued affiliation of the Minor League Baseball clubs in 12 those communities with Major League Baseball. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:08 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR507.IS SR507 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS