( CNN ) -- Two lawmakers have joined the debate over the name of the Washington Redskins football team , writing a letter to the National Football League calling for a name change and threatening to hold hearings on the subject . The name Redskins is `` an insult to Native Americans , '' according to the two lawmakers , Sen. Maria Cantwell , D-Washington state and chairwoman of the Indian Affairs Committee , and Rep. Tom Cole , R-Oklahoma , who is a member of the Chickasaw Nation . `` This term does not honor -- but rather disparages -- Indian people and tribes , '' they wrote in their letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell . `` The National Football League can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name . '' Cantwell said the advocacy of the National Congress of American Indians , including a video made by the organization , was part of what prompted her letter to league officials . NFL officials `` have heard from the leading representatives of Native Americans in our country , '' she said . `` So are they going to change the name , or are they going to continue to use an offensive name ? '' The owner of the Redskins , Daniel Snyder , has defended the name and vowed to keep it . Tony Wyllie , a senior vice president with the team , had the following response to the lawmakers : . `` With all the important issues Congress has to deal with such as a war in Afghanistan to deficits to health care , do n't they have more important issues to worry about than a football team 's name ? '' And in an apparent dig at Cole , he added , `` given the fact that the name of Oklahoma means `` Red People '' in Choctaw , this request is a little ironic . '' The team also pointed to letters from Redskins fans of Native American descent who support the name , such as Arthur Dymond , who said he went to every game this season . `` I 'm proud of being a Redskin . I 'm proud of being a Native American , '' he said in an interview . `` It 's honorable . The Redskins team plays honorably ; they fight hard , as did the 'redskins ' of the past . '' He also objected to members of Congress getting involved in the issue . Cantwell said she was ready to make an issue of the tax-exempt status the NFL enjoys and plans to push for Senate hearings on the subject . `` With our tight economic budget , we ca n't afford to have tax breaks going to organizations that basically have terminologies that are offensive to the American people , '' she told CNN . The NFL did not have an immediate reaction to the letter from the lawmakers , but Goodell was asked about the controversy 10 days ago . `` Let me remind you , this is a name of a football team that has had that name for 80 years , and has presented the name in a way that honored Native Americans , '' he said . `` We recognize that there are some that do n't agree with the name , and we have listened and respected that . ''
Two lawmakers urge the NFL to change the Washington Redskins name . Redskins is `` an insult to Native Americans , '' Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Tom Cole write . The two legislators are calling for a new logo that would be more inclusive of all races and ethnicities.