The legislative push comes after Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor and physician at Michigan State University, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced on Jan. 24 | Paul Sancya/AP Photo Senate passes bill in response to gymnastics sex-abuse case

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to require amateur sports governing bodies to report sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement, as lawmakers act in response to an unfurling gymnastics scandal.

The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House on Monday, now goes to President Donald Trump's desk. It would require people involved with amateur athletics who suspect abuse to report it within 24 hours and require training to help prevent misconduct.


The legislative push comes after Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor and physician at Michigan State University, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced on Jan. 24 to up to 175 years in prison. More than 150 women and girls accused Nassar of assault.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sponsored the bill and held a press conference earlier Tuesday with gymnasts calling for more action. Jeanette Antolin, a former gymnast on the U.S. national team, called on the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University to probe their failures to spot or prevent the abuse.

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Michigan State’s president resigned last week, as did the school's athletic director. The entire USA Gymnastics board of directors announced it would resign after the U.S. Olympic Committee threatened to decertify the organization.

“There must be a thorough investigation. Time is not on our side. We must act now. Time is up,” Antolin said. “Every minute that goes by with unanswered questions more innocent children could be harmed. We cannot live in a society where young children’s lives are destroyed at the hands of trusted adults.”

Feinstein said the legislation was spurred by a meeting she had with a group of gymnasts in February 2017.

“We talked about what happened to them and how USA Gymnastics and the adults charged with protecting them failed at every single turn,” she said. “The meeting made clear that USA Gymnastics was fostering a culture that put money and medals first, far ahead of the safety and well being of athletes.”

