National Football League

Senate hearing on domestic violence in sports to hear from league reps

Published Dec. 2, 2014 5:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

WASHINGTON -- Representatives of the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA and NHL are scheduled to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee about domestic violence in professional sports.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the panel, says he called for Tuesday's hearing because ''until very recently, the leagues' records have not been very good'' on the issue.

Rockefeller says there is ''a long list of players'' charged with, or convicted of, domestic violence ''and the leagues have done little to nothing in response.''

Officials from the players' unions in baseball, basketball and hockey are also scheduled to appear.

The NFL Players Association will not be represented Tuesday.

Its executive director, DeMaurice Smith, sent Rockefeller a letter saying the union is establishing a commission to advise it on domestic violence.