Bipartisan Senators propose bill for safeguarding college athletes.

A New Bill to Protect College Athletes

A bipartisan⁢ group of senators has introduced ‍an exciting new bill aimed at protecting college athletes. Sens. Cory​ Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Jerry Moran (R-Ks.) announced on July ‌20th the introduction of a bill that focuses on an athlete’s name,‍ image, and⁢ likeness (NIL).

The Fight for Fair Compensation

For years, college athletes have been fighting for ​fair compensation, as the ⁣NCAA has prohibited them from receiving money ‌from sponsorships and other income streams that professional athletes enjoy. However, in‌ 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that this ⁢NCAA prohibition‍ was unlawful.

The College Athletes Protection and ⁢Compensation Act of 2023

The College Athletes⁤ Protection and ‍Compensation Act ​of ⁢2023⁤ aims to address these issues. The bill proposes the creation of the College Athletics Corporation, which ​would oversee ⁣NIL⁤ contracts made ⁣with college athletes. It would also⁣ allow athletes to‍ receive assistance in managing their brand.⁢ Importantly, higher education institutions would not be allowed to ⁢serve as or influence such representation. The bill would also protect student-athletes from⁢ being disciplined ⁤for receiving benefits from outside parties, with a ⁣few‍ exceptions.

Supporting Student-Athletes

The measure would‌ establish a ​Medical Trust Fund⁢ to cover ‌student-athletes’ out-of-pocket⁣ medical costs, including major long-term conditions. Additionally, colleges and ‍universities would be required to provide assistance to student-athletes⁤ until​ they graduate, even if they are no longer⁢ on⁣ a team due to a career-ending injury.

Transparency and Equal ‍Opportunities

The bill⁢ would⁣ also mandate colleges and universities to report their athletics programs’‍ expenditures and revenues, as well as the academic performance and majors of their athletes. Scholarships could be revoked for students who perform poorly academically, transfer to ‌another institution, or fail to meet certain requirements. Furthermore, the legislation would prohibit retaliation against student-athletes for⁣ entering professional sports leagues. ‍Financial literacy⁣ education would also be‌ required for student-athletes.

Equal Access and NCAA’s Response

The ‌bill would ensure equal access to services and facilities for male and female⁢ student-athletes​ during ​tournaments. The NCAA expressed its appreciation for Congress’s involvement in‌ the NIL issue and stated its⁤ support ⁢for student-athletes profiting from their​ name, image, and‌ likeness ⁣rights. The NCAA looks forward to working with stakeholders⁢ to advance student-athletes’ ​interests and improve their well-being.

Conclusion

In a statement, Senator Moran praised the rich history of his home state’s collegiate athletic⁢ programs‌ but emphasized the need ⁣for student-athletes to benefit. This‌ includes the University of [insert university name].