⁍ Legislation that will trigger a massive overhaul of the U.S. Olympic system unanimously passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

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⁍ The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act calls for increased funding for the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

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⁍ If both fail to follow up on reforms, new mechanisms would be in place to allow Congress to dissolve the USOPC board and decertify NGBs.

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– “The very institutions charged with protecting these athletes failed countless times, choosing to ignore or cover up abuse rather than defend and protect athletes and survivors.” Those were the words of Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Jerry Moran in a joint statement after the House passed the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act on Thursday, Reuters reports. The bill, which passed unanimously, is in response to the sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Among other things, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act increases funding for the US Center for SafeSport and gives more athlete representation on the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee board. It also calls for the creation of a commission to study broader issues within the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The bill, introduced by Moran and Blumenthal, followed an 18-month investigation that found Nassar, the former team doctor for USA Gymnastics, was able to assault hundreds of girls and women because of a lack of transparency and accountability among US Olympic officials, coaches, and trainers. “The very institutions charged with protecting these athletes failed countless times, choosing to ignore or cover up abuse rather than defend and protect athletes and survivors,” the senators said in their statement.