The U.S. Senate advanced a bipartisan bill to set national standards for college athletes’ compensation on Thursday, clearing a key procedural vote with a 77-22 margin. The measure would establish a five-year eligibility timeline, bar professional athletes from college competition, and provide antitrust protections to the NCAA.
Bill Details and Provisions
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, are championing the legislation, with Sens. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Chris Coons of Delaware as original cosponsors. Senate leaders indicated that the measure will proceed to debate and potential amendments prior to a final vote.
Cantwell argued on the Senate floor that the bill seeks to bring order to the sport, which she described as a form of “craziness” following the NCAA’s 2021 decision allowing athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. She called the legislation “historic,” noting it codifies more than a dozen provisions intended to protect the financial futures of athletes.
Read Also: Nebraska Governor Overhauls Economic Forecast Board Amid Deficit
The proposal addresses ongoing challenges in the sport, including inconsistent state-level NIL laws, gender disparities in compensation deals, and the expansion of the transfer portal. It also follows a federal judge’s approval last year of a nearly $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that permits schools to directly compensate athletes.
Opposition and Criticisms
Several lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, oppose the measure, arguing it preserves an exploitative system. Murphy criticized the focus on college athletics amid global conflicts and rising gas prices. He stated, “We have a war that is out of control in the Middle East, we have gas prices that are soon going to be $6 a gallon,” Murphy said. “This seems to be the last issue that Congress should be dealing with, and I think it shows how out of touch Republicans are.” Murphy and others contend the legislation’s neutrality on athlete employment status undermines labor rights. The bill is notably neutral on the classification of athletes as employees.
As of mid-afternoon Thursday, the college sports bill and a separate judicial confirmation vote were the only items scheduled for Senate floor action that day. The House of Representatives is not expected to act until after the November midterm elections, when a lame-duck session would begin.