dr. robinson or miss robinson, rather. you are the treasurer of the association of boxing commission. tell me a little bit about the boxing commission, i want to know what is that. >> those are the regulatory bodies spread across the nation. almost always a state agency, my personal state is housed under the arkansas department of health. some are under commerce, some are under licensing and regulation. and each state has created a commission so that they can have a department that enforces the muhammad ali professional boxing act, that includes try balance government as well. not every try balance government promotes mma or boxing, but if they do, there is a real push for them to be part of our train sim pose yums, our officials training. >> so in terms of governance, do they have really teeth and power in terms of governance, do they really call the shots? >> i can't speak for every state. but yes. the ones that i'm familiar with, california has an excellent program, and they control every item of it. in my home state of arkansas, it is not -- no matter what violation, the way the l

dr. robinson -- ms. robinson, rather. you are the treasurer on the association of boxing commissions, pleural. tell me a little bit about the boxing commissions. i want to know what is that? >> those are the regulatory bodies sped across the nation. almost always a state agency. my personal state is housed under the arkansas department of health. some are under commerce. some are under licensing and regulation and each state has created a commission so that they can have a department that enforces the muhammad ali professional boxing act. and that includes tribal governments as well. not every travel government promotes or hosts mma or boxing but if nay do, there is a real push for them to be part of our training symposiums, our officials training. >> so in terms of governance, do they have really teeth, power in terms of governance? do they really call the shots? >> i can't speak for every state. but, yes, the ones that i'm familiar with, california has an excellent program and they control every item of it. in my home s

dr. robinson -- ms. robinson, rather. you are the treasurer on the association of boxing commissions, pleural. tell me a little bit about the boxing commissions. i want to know what is that?... >> those are the regulatory bodies spread across the nation. almost always a state agency. my personal state is housed under the arkansas department of health. some are under commerce. some are under licensing and regulation and each state has created a commission so that they can have a department that enforces the muhammad ali professional boxing act. and that includes tribal governments as well. not every tribal government in the may orsts boxing, but if they do, there is a real push for them to be part of our training symposiums, our officials training. >> so in terms of governance, do they have really teeth, power in terms of governance? do they really call the shots? >> i can't speak for every state. but, yes, the ones that i'm familiar with, california has an excellent program and they control every item of it. in my home st

miss lydia robinson. dr. ann mckee, professor at boston university school of medicine and mr. randy couto ur. >> thank you. i would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for allowing me to testify today. also want to thank representative mullen for bringing this to the forefront. it's an important issue to address and make sure there are some minimum mandatory requirements as we move forward with this great sport. i had the opportunity to enjoy another great sport, boxing. i spent a lot of time in and around the ring. but also saw the challenges and the damage that a very difficult sport can have, lasting impacts on those that engage in it. i believe that we need to have some minimum standards. because often times, if the health of a fighter is not addressed, you can have a fighter that gets back into the ring early or before they are completely healed. if that happens, that also lends itself to have irrepairable long-term damage as well. and i have seen the lasting impacts of friends that have gotten back into the ring too early or before they were completely healed.

robinson. treasurer at the association of boxing commissioners and combative sports. dr. ann mckee, professor at boston university school of medicine. and mr. randy cotour. president at extreme couture. we appreciate each of you being here today and we will begin our de l with representative nham. rep. denham: thank you, mr. chairman. i would like to think the chairman and ranking member. i also want to thank representative mullen for bringing this issue to the forefront. it is an important issue to address and make sure there are minimum mandatory requirements as we move forward with this great sport. i had the opportunity to enjoy another great sport, boxing. i spent a lot of time in and around the ring, but also saw the challenges and lasting impacts that those who engage in it. i believe that we need to have some minimum standards because often times, if the health of a fighter is not addressed, you will have a fighter who gets back into the ring early or before they are completely healed. if that happens, that lends itself to have your inheritable, -- in repairable -