[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1564-H1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REQUIRING EVALUATION BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE OF SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC, AND HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS BY MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6020) to require an evaluation by the
Government Accountability Office of the social, economic, and historic
contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to American life and
culture, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6020
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) more than forty million fans have attended Minor League
Baseball games each season for 15 consecutive years;
(2) Minor League Baseball provides wholesome affordable
entertainment in 160 communities throughout the Nation;
(3) in 2018, Minor League Baseball clubs donated over $45
million in cash and in-kind gifts to their local communities
and completed over 15,000 volunteer hours;
(4) the economic stimulus and development provided by Minor
League Baseball clubs extends beyond the cities and towns
where it is played, to wide and diverse geographic areas
comprising 80 percent of the population in the Nation;
(5) Minor League Baseball is committed to promoting
diversity and inclusion through its Copa de la Diversion,
MiLB Pride, FIELD Program, and Women in Baseball Leadership
initiatives;
(6) Minor League Baseball is the first touchpoint of the
national pastime for millions of youth and the only
touchpoint for
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those located in communities far from Major League cities;
(7) Congress has enacted numerous statutory exemptions and
immunities to preserve and sustain a system for Minor League
Baseball and its relationship with Major League Baseball;
(8) an 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 these clubs provide;
(9) Minor League Baseball clubs enrich the lives of
millions of Americans each year through special economic,
cultural, social, and charitable contributions; and
(10) preservation of Minor League Baseball in 160
communities is in the public interest, as it will continue to
provide affordable, family friendly entertainment to those
communities.
SEC. 2. GAO EVALUATION.
Following consultation with the relevant committees of
Congress, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
evaluate the social, economic, and historic contributions
that Minor League Baseball has made to American life and
culture.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentlewoman from West
Virginia (Mrs. Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
{time} 1215
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. 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. 6020.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume. Minor League Baseball has been part of the
social fabric of America for over 100 years.
Today, there are 160 minor league teams across the country, including
the Staten Island Yankees and the 2019 New York-Penn League Champion
Brooklyn Cyclones.
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a
study on the social, economic, and historical contributions that these
teams have made to American society. Minor League Baseball provides
family-friendly entertainment to millions of Americans. It is also an
important economic influence in many communities, employing thousands
of individuals, and often serves as an important source of charitable
giving.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Lori Trahan and David McKinley
for their leadership on this bipartisan effort. I also recognize the
members of the Committee on Oversight and Reform who have cosponsored
this measure, Representatives Comer, Haaland, Keller, Miller, and
Welch.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6020, a bill requiring a
Government Accountability Office evaluation of the social, economic,
and historic contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to
American life and culture.
This past year, Major League Baseball proposed eliminating at least
40 minor league teams. MLB says their goal is to modernize the minor
league system, but communities say the plan is misguided. Minor league
teams are often found in smaller cities. I have two in my own district,
and I visited with these teams.
I know they have a vested interest in our communities, and they have
a positive economic impact and contribute to our diversification. I
have spoken with the fans, and they tell me how the teams provide a
sense of community, pride, and togetherness, and improve livability in
the region.
Mr. Speaker, there are many other benefits that minor league teams
provide. For example, the average cost of a major league ticket is over
$30, compared to the under $10 for the minor's, and that cost rises
exponentially when you factor in parking, concessions, and souvenirs.
Minor League Baseball also offers an affordable alternative to those
families that wish to teach their kids about America's pastime.
In addition to these individual benefits, Minor League Baseball teams
donated over $40 million to local charities in 2018 alone. The minor
leagues have also established initiatives providing opportunities to
athletes around the world. These initiatives grow the game of baseball.
Some of these initiatives include providing training and equipment to
Latin-American players and expanding the sport by encouraging young
girls to play.
Minor League Baseball also creates programs and hosts summer camps
for kids in their local communities. These programs and camps promote a
healthy lifestyle and teach teamwork and leadership.
Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I support this bill, and I urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes
to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan).
Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New York, Chairwoman
Maloney, for her leadership.
Mr. Speaker, this bill would direct the GAO to evaluate the social,
economic, and historic contributions that Minor League Baseball has
made to American life and culture.
George Will wrote last October: ``In baseball, as in the remainder of
life, the most valuable rules are unwritten.''
To my mind, one of the cardinal rules is: ``Don't forget where you
come from.'' My grandmother, an immigrant from Brazil, worked in the
very mill building in Lowell where I now have my Congressional office.
And each day, we help people just like her. It is a constant reminder
of the community Lowell is--welcoming, loyal, diverse, and proud.
Mr. Speaker, in 1996, the Spinners came to Lowell, Massachusetts. The
Spinners are an affiliate of our beloved Red Sox, and they play just 30
miles away in Fenway Park. Ever since that first season, fans from
across the Merrimack Valley have rallied to them each summer.
The Spinners are today as much a part of our city as the Lowell
National Historical Park, UMass Lowell, and the Merrimack River. The
city has invested in ensuring that LeLacheur Park, where the Spinners
play, is among the best ballparks in our country.
Baseball has deep roots in communities just like Lowell across the
Nation. However, fans of the Spinners and 41 other teams nationwide,
had a rude awakening last fall when it was learned that a contraction
proposal put their affiliations at risk. Instead, they were offered a
pipe dream alternative that would almost certainly spell the end of
professional baseball in these communities.
The bill before us notes that: ``Preservation of Minor League
Baseball in 160 communities is in the public interest, as it will
continue to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment in those
communities.''
Mr. Speaker, these communities deserve better than to be forgotten.
They deserve better than to be considered merely in the context of a
balance sheet. These communities have supported their teams through
thick and thin, and they produce the talent that we all see on the
baseball diamond at the major league level.
Mr. Speaker, I urge MLB: Don't forget where you come from. Baseball
has always been a game rooted in communities like mine.
Mrs. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
West Virginia (Mr. McKinley).
Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6020, and I
thank the committee, both sides on this, for advancing this piece of
legislation to us.
My colleague and I from Massachusetts, Lori Trahan, have been leading
this fight around the country to preserve Minor League Baseball in 42
communities.
Baseball in these communities is threatened by this proposal by Major
League Baseball to virtually eliminate minor league teams in small
towns, from Massachusetts to Montana, in communities like Charleston,
Bluefield, and Princeton, West Virginia.
But why is Congress involved? You have to understand: For the most
part, Major League Baseball controls the destiny of minor leagues, and
they should not be allowed to bully these
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small communities into submission. Our goal is to level the playing
field for these small towns and ensure that they have a voice in this
matter.
Minor League Baseball is a point of pride in these cities and towns
and brings jobs and economic development. It provides affordable,
family-friendly entertainment, and brings people together for an
afternoon at the ballpark and, hopefully, creating the next generation
of baseball fans.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is intended to show Congress' commitment to
preserving America's pastime in small parts of rural America, far
removed from the bright lights of major leagues. By passing this piece
of legislation, we will be sending a message that eliminating
grassroots baseball in these 42 communities is an unnecessary burden on
these small towns, jerking the rug out from under baseball towns in
rural America.
Look, there are many things in our American culture that should
matter. This particular legislation demonstrates that there are some
things in our American society, in our culture, that should mean more
than dollars and cents. Major League Baseball needs to think about
this.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes
to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland), a member of the
Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, as the granddaughter of the founder of the
first Native-American baseball team in Arizona, I rise to speak in
favor of H.R. 6020 and Minor League Baseball.
I thank Chairwoman Maloney and Mrs. Miller, and the Committee on
Oversight and Reform staff for their wonderful efforts on this issue.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, my grandfather recognized the
talent in his community and started up a baseball team to help give
everyone a shot and strengthen our connection to each other. My entire
family got involved. I remember collecting foul balls because my
grandfather gave us 5 cents for each one we retrieved, so we could play
a role as well.
As the team started winning State championships, more and more people
wanted to join. My grandfather welcomed everyone, making sure that
America's pastime would reflect America's diversity. Communities across
the country enjoy celebrating with their community's Minor League
Baseball teams, just like my community with my grandfather's team.
My home team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, filled their stands with an
average of 8,000 people for each of their games last year, and sold
more than half-a-million tickets. Albuquerque would be devastated to
lose our team, and small businesses that have concessions at the game
would suffer immensely. These games equate to jobs in my district.
Major League Baseball may not be targeting the Isotopes with this
change, but dozens of communities aren't so lucky. In incredibly
unreasonable negotiations, Major League Baseball is trying to force
regulations on Minor League Baseball that would shutter not only teams
but also the dreams of kids from all walks of life who are inspired by
the games they watch.
Minor League Baseball provides affordable entertainment and
immeasurable joy for families that can't afford Major League Baseball
games or are living in rural parts of our country.
Mr. Speaker, I fully support the GAO report that will show to Major
League Baseball, and everyone else in our country, just how critical
Minor League Baseball has been to the social, economic, and historical
development of our communities. I am excited to go back home in May and
throw the first pitch for the Isotopes game and hope that Members of
Congress across the country can continue to have that honor.
Go `Topes.
Mrs. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the gentlewoman from
New York aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to
close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes
to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).
Mr. RYAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the
time.
Mr. Speaker, one of the great nights in Washington, D.C., throughout
the whole Congressional year, is the night we do the Congressional
baseball game, where Democrats play Republicans at the Washington
Nationals Park. There are 5,000-10,000 people there--maybe more,
depending on the year--and it actually brings everybody together in
Washington, D.C., which, as many people know, is a unique night. Many
of the players at that game wear their local Minor League Baseball
uniform to represent their local community in Washington, D.C., at the
baseball game.
I have worn the Mahoning Valley Scrappers uniform there. The Mahoning
Valley Scrappers have been just outside of Youngstown, Ohio, in Niles,
Ohio, right by our mall, the Eastwood Mall at Eastwood Field, for 20
years. It is where young people and families can go watch professional
baseball. They can afford it. They can hang out. It is a 5- or 10-
minute drive. It is an important component of our community.
So, of all the ups and downs of our economy in northeast Ohio over
the last 20 years, we have had baseball. And now Major League Baseball
is saying: We want to cut over 40 teams. And what we are saying here in
the United States Congress is: Congressman Bill Johnson, Republican--
who also represents part of the area--myself, and others, are coming
together to try to stop this from happening.
Young people in our area have been able to go to this field and watch
CC Sabathia, Francisco Lindor, Victor Martinez, Jose Ramirez--names
everybody knows in Major League Baseball, and when they were starting,
they played in Niles, Ohio.
So, we want to make sure that we prevent this from happening. We want
to save Minor League Baseball in communities all over the United
States.
{time} 1230
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes
to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).
Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
bipartisan measure to draw attention to a really horrible development
that could occur if, again, Congress and the public are not watching,
which is a proposal by Major League Baseball to eliminate 25 percent of
the minor league teams all across America.
I am here next to the logo of the Norwich Sea Unicorns, which is a
Class A baseball team in Norwich, Connecticut, a franchise that goes
back decades. As many of the other Members have said, it provides an
affordable family venue for people to go to a professional baseball
game and see the stars of the future, something that, with the price of
tickets of Major League Baseball, whether it is Fenway Park, Yankee
Stadium, or Citi Field in New York City, is just far beyond what a
working family can afford to do.
The logic of this, in terms of economics, makes absolutely no sense.
Over the last 4 years, Minor League Baseball has averaged consistently
40 million fans. The cost to Major League Baseball per franchise is
about $400,000 for the entire team for a season.
When you look at the average value of a Major League Baseball team,
it is about $1.78 billion. Again, there are, obviously, the really
high-rent teams like the Yankees in my friend Carolyn Maloney's
neighborhood, but even the smallest is worth over $1 billion. So, the
notion that Major League Baseball is in desperate financial straits
just does not add up.
That is why having GAO called upon, which this bill does--this isn't
just a feel-good bill. It calls on the gold standard, the neutral
analysts in our country to drill down and look at what the economic
impact would be. And we who represent these communities know that the
impact would be devastating.
On February 3, we had a rally in Norwich, Connecticut. Hundreds of
people showed up, the vendors and folks who actually benefit from the
economic ripple effect of a Minor League Baseball team, but also the
families and kids, the high school baseball teams that use the field.
We need to rise up and stop this development, which really goes to
the heart of our country in terms of its national pastime. Again, I
strongly urge all of us to come together and pass this resolution.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
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speakers. I urge passage of H.R. 6020, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mrs. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6020, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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