The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, a bill aimed at establishing national rules for college athletics. The legislation, led by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Maria Cantwell of Washington, was approved by a vote of 77-22 on Monday night. President Donald Trump has expressed support for the bill, urging lawmakers to pass it before Congress's summer recess.
The bill establishes standards for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, athlete compensation, recruiting, eligibility, transferring, and other aspects of college athletics. It also provides the collegiate governing body with greater antitrust legal protections and creates a uniform framework for college athletics. The bill was pushed to the next phase earlier this month, allowing the Senate to advance the bipartisan legislation.
The Protect College Sports Act will now go to the House of Representatives, where it will require a vote before being sent to Trump's desk for signature. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said ahead of the vote that the current landscape of college sports is a mess and needs to be addressed. The bill's supporters argue that it will provide a more structured and fair system for college athletes.
There are opponents of the bill, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who expressed concerns that it would take away bargaining power from athletes and create exemptions from antitrust law for schools. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri also filed an amendment to the bill aimed at preventing it from overriding state laws that bar biological men from competing in women's sports.
The House is currently in recess until after the midterm elections, meaning a potential vote on the bill to send it to Trump's desk will have to wait.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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