Amid NCAA president Charlie Baker’s latest visit with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, there is growing movement to hurriedly produce federal legislation over college athlete compensation before the nation enters another presidential election cycle this fall.
Baker, hired in March to replace Mark Emmert, returned to the Capitol a week ago for meetings with House and Senate members and their staffs in an effort to encourage a federal bill. Among the people with whom he met was Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, the group that likely controls the trajectory of any college athlete legislation. The list also includes House member Mikie Sherrill (D., N.J.), who has been vocal about the issues around the disparate treatment of women athletes versus men.
Baker’s visit comes at a time in which at least some congressional lawmakers are seriously gearing up to move on a college athlete bill. Several lawmakers and Congressional aides spoke to Sports Illustrated about the latest movement on the issue:
