Senators examine major sports leagues’ domestic violence policies

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing next Tuesday titled, “Addressing Domestic Violence in Professional Sports.”

Senators on that panel will examine the current domestic violence policies of the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL).

{mosads}The hear comes after TMZ posted a video in September showing former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, who was knocked unconscious. Lawmakers blasted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for being too lenient on players.

Also, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended for the season after admitting to police that he didn’t think it was wrong to repeatedly hit his 4-year-old son.

Several committees will also work to clear President Obama’s executive nominations, including that of Lauren McGarity McFerran to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

With Republicans taking control of the upper chamber next year, Democrats are more motivated than ever to clear as many of Obama’s executive and judicial nominations as possible before the end of the year.

Details on these and other Senate hearings follow:

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

– Dec. 3, “Farmers and Fresh Water: Voluntary Conservation to Protect our Land and Waters”

10 a.m., 328A Russell Senate Office Building

Senate Armed Services

– Dec. 2, “Nominations”

9:30 a.m., 216 Hart Senate Office Building

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation

– Dec. 2, “Addressing Domestic Violence in Professional Sports”

2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Senate Office Building

Senate Energy and Public Works

– Dec. 2, “Nominations”

TBD, 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building

– Dec. 3, “NRC’s Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety”

10 a.m., 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building

– Dec. 3, “The Super Pollutants Act of 2014”

2:30 p.m., 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Foreign Relations

– Dec. 2, “Nominations”

2:30 p.m., 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

– Dec. 2, “Nomination of Lauren McGarity McFerran to serve as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board”

9:30 a.m., 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building