,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ejg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bg1 #bjbj,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,manchin1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,ms4 ,ernst1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,cotton7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,,resolution ,supporting ,minor ,league ,baseball4 ,whereas1 each season for #ae consecutive years1 more than #dj1jjj1jjj fans have attended a ,minor ,league ,baseball game2 ,whereas ,minor ,league ,baseball provides wholesome1 affordable entertainment in #afj communities throughout the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs-- 7#a7 donated more than #de1jjj1jjj in cash and in-kind gifts to the communities in which those clubs were located2 and 7#b7 completed more than #ae1jjj volunteer hours2 ,whereas the economic stimulus and development provided by ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs extends beyond the cities and towns where ,minor ,league ,baseball games are played to a wide range of diverse geographic areas in which #hj percent of the people of the ,united ,states are located2 ,whereas ,minor ,league ,baseball is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion through-- 7#a7 the ,copa de la ,diversin initiative2 7#b7 the ,mi,l,b ,pride initiative2 7#c7 the ,fostering ,inclusion through ,education and ,leadership ,development ,program 7commonly known as the ,,field ,program72 and 7#d7 the ,women in ,baseball ,leadership initiative2 ,whereas ,minor ,league ,baseball is the first touchpoint with the national pastime for millions of youth1 and the only touchpoint for youth located in communities far from cities in which ,major ,league ,baseball clubs are located2 ,whereas ,congress has enacted numerous statutory exemptions and immunities to preserve and sustain-- 7#a7 a system for ,minor ,league ,baseball2 and 7#b7 the relationship between ,minor ,league ,baseball and ,major ,league ,baseball2 ,whereas the proposed abandonment of #db ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs by ,major ,league ,baseball would devastate communities1 bond purchasers1 and other stakeholders that rely on the economic stimulus that those ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs provide2 ,whereas ,minor ,league ,baseball facilities not only house the affiliated team1 but also serve as venues for community events and other sporting competitions2 ,whereas ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs enrich the lives of millions of people in the ,united ,states each year through economic1 social1 cultural1 and charitable contributions2 and ,whereas the preservation of ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs in #afj communities across the ,united ,states is in the public interest1 as those clubs will continue to provide affordable1 family-friendly entertainment to those communities3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports the preservation of ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs in #afj communities across the ,united ,states2 7#b7 recognizes the unique social1 economic1 and historical contributions that ,minor ,league ,baseball has made to the lives and culture of the people of the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 encourages the continuation in #afj communities across the ,united ,states of the #aag-year foundation of ,minor ,league ,baseball through the continued affiliation of the ,minor ,league ,baseball clubs in those communities with ,major ,league ,baseball4