{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912003527/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=345eafd5-6120-4850-8e1c-4a3197856035", "Women Senators Urge NFL Commissioner to Institute Zero-Tolerance Policy for Domestic Violence", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Susan Collins, along with a bipartisan group of 15 other Senate women, wrote to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell urging the league to institute a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence.\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cWe were shocked and disgusted by the images we saw this week of one of your players violently assaulting his now-wife and knocking her unconscious, and at new reports that the NFL may have received this video months ago. Tragically, this is not the only case of an NFL player allegedly assaulting a woman even within the last year,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cWe are deeply concerned that the NFL\u2019s new policy, announced last month, would allow a player to commit a violent act and return after a short suspension. If you violently assault a woman, you shouldn\u2019t get a second chance to play football in the NFL.\u201d\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Along with Senator Collins, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On Monday, Ray Rice\u2019s contract was terminated by the Baltimore Ravens after video emerged of the NFL player violently attacking his now-wife, knocking her unconscious. The NFL suspended him indefinitely, but in an interview this week, Commissioner Goodell refused to rule out allowing Rice to return to the NFL in the future.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Under the NFL\u2019s current disciplinary policy \u2013 announced in August \u2013 players who commit a violent crime are subject to a 6-game suspension for a first offense, potentially allowing players who commit violent offenses like domestic violence or sexual assault to return to the field during the same season. Players would only be banned from the NFL after committing a second violent act, and they are allowed to petition for reinstatement after one year.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Just three days after the NFL announced its new league-wide policy on domestic violence, another player was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence. Another player has been convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill a former girlfriend, and another was signed to a new contract even after being arrested and charged for assaulting a woman. Despite the NFL\u2019s new policy, all continue to play with their teams.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Senators continued, \u201cIt is long past time for the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy and send a strong message that the league will not tolerate violence against women by its players, who are role models for children across America.\u201d\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\u00a0\nSeptember 11, 2014\n\u00a0\nMr. Roger Goodell\nCommissioner\nNational Football League\n345 Park Avenue\nNew York, NY 10154\n\u00a0\nDear Commissioner Goodell:\n\u00a0\nAs we mark the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, we call on the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence that will ensure that this type of violence and abuse has no place in the NFL.\nWe were shocked and disgusted by the images we saw this week of one of your players violently assaulting his now-wife and knocking her unconscious, and at new reports that the NFL may have received this video months ago. Tragically, this is not the only case of an NFL player allegedly assaulting a woman even within the last year.\u00a0\nWe are deeply concerned that the NFL\u2019s new policy, announced last month, would allow a player to commit a violent act against a woman and return after a short suspension. If you violently assault a woman, you shouldn\u2019t get a second chance to play football in the NFL.\nThe NFL\u2019s current policy sends a terrible message to players, fans and all Americans that even after committing a horrific act of violence, you can quickly be back on the field.\nIt is long past time for the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy and send a strong message that the league will not tolerate violence against women by its players, who are role models for children across America.\u00a0 We hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to the safety of women and families.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912003527/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=345eafd5-6120-4850-8e1c-4a3197856035"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7884788792580366, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}