WASHINGTON | A Senate Commerce Committee hearing about domestic violence in professional sports has started, with representatives of the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA and NHL — and their players’ unions — scheduled to testify.

FILE - In this May 24, 2012, file photo, NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith speaks during a news conference outside their headquarters in Washington. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. In a letter sent Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith writes that "when these matters are left solely to the NFL, the process is mismanaged and often the end result has not been able to withstand outside review." (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
FILE – In this May 24, 2012, file photo, NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith speaks during a news conference outside their headquarters in Washington. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. In a letter sent Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith writes that “when these matters are left solely to the NFL, the process is mismanaged and often the end result has not been able to withstand outside review.” (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
FILE – In this May 24, 2012, file photo, NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith speaks during a news conference outside their headquarters in Washington. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. The head of the NFL Players Association says the union is establishing an eight-member commission to advise it about domestic violence prevention and discipline. In a letter sent Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith writes that “when these matters are left solely to the NFL, the process is mismanaged and often the end result has not been able to withstand outside review.” (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he called for Tuesday’s hearing because “until very recently, the leagues’ records have not been good” on the issue. The West Virginia Democrat chairs the panel.

Rockefeller says “the leagues have done little or nothing in response” when players have been charged or convicted for domestic violence.

The NFL Players Association said Monday it would not be represented, but on Tuesday, its deputy managing director, Teri Patterson, was added to the witness list.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith sent Rockefeller a letter saying the union is establishing a commission on domestic violence.

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