releases: http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406207
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406207 | <span class ="kicker"> | 2019-11-13 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | legacy | Following news that an independent investigation called for by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) into the death of Braeden Bradfortha Monmouth County resident and student at Garden City Community College in Kansas (GCCC)would be released by the GCCC Board of Trustees to his family, Smith commended the Board for making the compassionate and respectful decision. Braeden's mother, Joanne, is entitled to absolutely every detail in the report, and the decision to share all of the information with the family was expected and is appreciated, said Smith, who asked GCCC President Ryan Ruda for the independent investigation into Braeden's death in a March 2019 letter. Braeden's family has suffered tremendously since his death, and we will be scrutinizing the report to see what improvements and protocols can be made in athletic programs around the country so that no more student athletes die from the completely preventable exertional heat stroke (EHS). A mother's love for her son moved the college to reverse its bunker mentality and conduct an independent investigation of the circumstances that led to his death, and the college has appeared to have made some changes, Smith said. I stand ready to work with Joanne to move not just GCCC, but the nation, to establish minimum standards andbest practices to prevent another senseless loss of a young life pursuing the dream of scholastic sports, said Smith, who introduced H.R. 4145, Protect our Athletes from Exertional Heat Stroke: Braeden's Commission to better protect students and families from EHS with a commission that determines the best ways to make sure that what happened to Braeden does not happen again. H.R. 4145 would establish a commission to conduct a study on exertional heat stroke among student athletes at educational institutions across the country to study best practices for prevention, recognition and treatment of exertional heat stroke, and develop recommendations for the purpose of reducing fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes. Smith introduced the legislation Aug. 2 after unveiling it at a memorial on Aug. 1, exactly one year after Braeden's death held in Braeden's home town of Neptune, N.J. PHOTO: Braeden's mom, Joanne Atkins-Ingram, flanked by her attorney Jill Greene and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), speaks to the media at an April 5 press conf. Bradforth was 19 when he received a scholarship in July of 2018 to play football at GCCC. On Aug. 1, 2018, only his second day on campus, he collapsed after evening football practice and was found unresponsive. After being taken to the hospital in an ambulance some time later, he passed away due to EHS, his autopsy later revealed. In March, Smith met with Braeden's mother Joanne Atkins-Ingram and promised to do everything he could to assist her in her efforts to find out more about her son's death, and what actions could be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |