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WASHINGTON – Continuing the fight against the impact of sports-related concussions on student athletes, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (NJ-8) – both sponsors of the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act – were joined today by two former NFL players and the NFL Players Association in welcoming two student athletes to Capitol Hill.
“Many college and professional athletic associations—including the NFL—have all adopted guidelines for the management of concussions. However, much of this information has not made its way to our local middle schools and high schools,” said Pascrell, the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. “It is for this reason that I introduced the ConTACT Act last November. The ConTACT Act is designed to provide our schools and coaches with the tools needed to ensure that student athletes receive the proper care for concussions—regardless of the sport they play.”
Congressman Pascrell and Senator Menendez welcomed two student athletes who did not have the benefit of the guidelines that the legislation seeks to provide.
Niki Popyer, 16, of Marlboro, N.J., spoke of her suffering 11 concussions on the high school basketball court that not only ended her promising future as a player, but have affected her performance in school and participation in everyday activities.
Abby Cahalan, 13, of Baltimore, MD, recalled her episode of sustaining a concussion in February 2008 as middle-school student playing indoor soccer. The lack of knowledge of her condition soon after the injury inhibited her recovery and ability to resume playing soccer.
The young ladies received words of encouragement from Tom Carter, a former Washington Redskins defensive back, and Ernie Conwell, who played tight end for the New Orleans Saints.
George Atallah, the NFL Players Association assistant executive director of external affairs, pledged the organization’s full support of the ConTACT Act and commitment to making sure student athletes compete in the safest possible circumstances.
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