BLUMENTHAL STATEMENT ON NFL’S NEW PENALTIES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced new league-wide domestic violence policies, which include a six-game suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second offense, that apply to all NFL personnel.   

“Today’s historic announcement puts the NFL at first down and goal to go. This very serious and significant step matches the severity and prevalence of domestic violence in our society and could make the NFL part of the solution, rather than the problem. I applaud Commissioner Goodell for taking positive steps to address the festering issue of domestic violence in the National Football League, but now the real work begins. The Commissioner and the League must match words with actions.”

Senator Blumenthal, along with Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), in July sent a letter to Commissioner Goodell and the Baltimore Ravens calling on them to develop procedures for handling domestic violence and to impose a stiffer penalty on Ray Rice.