A bipartisan Senate bill addressing college athlete payments and Olympic sports protections faces opposition in the House during Congress’s lame-duck session.
WASHINGTON —
Congress returned to Capitol Hill today as lawmakers prepare to debate a bill aimed at regulating college sports.
What is the Protect College Sports Act?
The Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, 77-22, would establish federal regulations for payments to college athletes for their name, image, and likeness, as well as set limits on how often athletes can transfer schools.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, negotiated the bill. Supporters of the legislation say it aims to reduce constant litigation and uncertainty across college sports. They also argue that without this legislation, schools under pressure to pay athletes in revenue-generating sports like football and basketball could cause smaller sports, which feed the Olympic pipeline, to fade.
Critics, however, argue the bill does not do enough to protect athletes or address the large sums of money flowing to coaches, colleges, and conferences.
Could the bill pass in the House?
The bill faces an uphill battle in the House, with nearly two months left in this session of Congress. The question now is whether Democrats, who mostly oppose the bill, will find any reason to support it during this lame-duck session.
If the bill does not pass the House, lawmakers will have to start over in the next session of Congress.
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