Senate panel advances bipartisan college sports bill

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The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Thursday advanced a bipartisan measure to regulate college sports, sending it to the Senate floor.

The panel moved the Protect College Sports Act forward in a 19-9 vote. Twelve Republicans and seven Democrats backed it, while seven Democrats and two Republicans — Sens. Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Todd Young (Ind.) — voted against it.

The bill proposes granting the NCAA limited antitrust protection and issues standards on the transfer portal, student athlete compensation and medical coverage. It also proposes requiring broadcasters to provide at least one free option for football and basketball games involving local teams.

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the chair and ranking member of the panel, respectively, negotiated the bill with Sens. Chris Coons (R-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

At the start of Thursday’s markup hearing, Cruz said the bill would “preserve and strengthen our uniquely American system” of college athletics.

“It focuses on broader principles we’re trying to protect. Fair competition, broad opportunity and a college sports system that remains open to more than a handful of the wealthiest programs,” he remarked.

President Trump backed the legislation earlier this month, saying it would “stop the chaos” in college athletics.

Former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban told the Commerce panel earlier this month that while the measure “isn’t perfect,” it is a “serious effort to bring order to a system that badly needs fixing.”

But while the NCAA has also backed the legislation, the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, the two most powerful conferences in college sports, said Thursday that “revisions are needed” to the bill before they can support it.

“Despite our sustained engagement and good faith efforts, these critical revisions have not been accepted,” the conferences wrote in a joint statement. “We are encouraged that several Commerce Committee members share our concerns and support these recommendations.

“We will continue working with stakeholders to ensure the PCSA delivers meaningful protections for student-athletes and lasting stability for college sports.”

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