Bill Text: NJ AR90 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges NFL teams to donate money received from government sources for military promotions to veterans' organizations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR90 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR90-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Urges NFL teams to donate money received from government sources for military promotions to veterans' organizations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the New York Jets and all National Football League teams to donate money from military promotions to veterans' organizations.
Whereas, According to a news report, the New Jersey National Guard paid the New York Jets $377,500 between 2011 and 2014 for military promotions, including honoring and recognizing United States military members; and
Whereas, National Football League (NFL) teams have reportedly received millions of dollars from the Army National Guard for similar promotions; and
Whereas, The Pentagon reportedly paid $5.4 million to 14 NFL teams from 2011 to 2014 for the promotion of the National Guard; and
Whereas, NFL teams already enjoy substantial property tax benefits and other subsidies and are highly profitable, independent of any collection of fees for the honoring of soldiers and veterans; and
Whereas, "For-profit patriotism" is offensive to the men and women who serve and sacrifice for the United States, and if NFL teams truly want to honor members of our Armed Forces, they should provide such recognition and promotion without cost and out of gratitude for their service; and
Whereas, The Governor of New Jersey has indicated that if money was paid to the Jets simply for saluting the troops, that money should be returned because the troops should be saluted freely in consideration for what they do for the country; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to urge the New York Jets and all National Football League teams to donate all money received for patriotic promotions to veterans' organizations; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the New York Jets and all National Football League teams to donate all money received from government sources for military promotions to veterans' organizations.
2. Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk
of the General Assembly to the owner of each NFL team, the United States Secretary
of Defense, and the Adjutant General of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the New York Jets and all National Football League (NFL) teams to donate all money received from government sources for military promotions to veterans' organizations.
The New Jersey Army National Guard reportedly paid the Jets $377,500 for promotional activities of a military nature, including recognition of service members during games. The Jets are hardly alone in accepting this money; the Pentagon has reportedly paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million during the same time period for similar promotions.
Patrons of these games are given the impression that the teams are honoring these men and women simply in gratitude for the service provided to this country, as should be the case, and not because of payments received from taxpayer-funded entities.
NFL teams already receive substantial tax subsidies and enjoy substantial profits, and the practice of "for-profit patriotism" is offensive to members of our Armed Forces. If the NFL truly wants to recognize the men and women who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces, they should implement these programs free of charge, simply out of gratitude for the service provided to the country.
