# What This Bill Actually Does

This is a resolution that honors Peter Westbrook, a legendary Olympic fencer, and recognizes the work of his foundation that helps young people in low-income neighborhoods learn fencing and improve their lives. It's important to understand that this isn't a law that creates new programs or changes anything—it's basically Congress saying "we recognize and appreciate what this person and organization have accomplished."

Peter Westbrook grew up in public housing in Newark, New Jersey, during a time of urban unrest. His mother put him in fencing classes to keep him safe, and he turned out to be exceptionally talented. He competed in six Olympic Games and won a bronze medal in 1984, becoming the first African American to win an Olympic medal in fencing. More importantly for everyday people, in 1991 he founded the Peter Westbrook Foundation, which offers free fencing lessons, academic tutoring, and mentorship to kids ages 8 to 18 from low-income families in New York City. The foundation has served over 4,000 young people, and the results are impressive: 100 percent of students graduate high school, 95 percent go to college, and all students improve their SAT scores.

The resolution highlights how the foundation is breaking barriers in a sport that has historically been dominated by wealthy, white participants. About 85 percent of the foundation's students are Black or Latino, and nearly half are girls. The foundation has sent 17 students to the Olympics since 2000, including Lauren Scruggs, who won a silver medal in 2024 and became the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic fencing medal. By passing this resolution, Congress is essentially saying this work matters and deserves recognition, though it doesn't provide any new funding or create any new requirements.

Recognizing the significant global impact and legacy of Peter Westbrook in the sport of fencing in the United States and the work that he has done to improve the lives of underserved and vulnerable youth.