As the House prepared to head out early for its summer break, Republicans made a push Wednesday to advance key legislation that would standardize the ways in which college athletes can be paid via name, image and likeness deals.
But several sticking points remain, as some Democrats continue to argue Congress shouldn’t shut the door to college athletes being considered employees, while knocking legislation they said hands more power to universities, athletic conferences and the NCAA.
“Congress should be working to uplift and protect the college athletes. Unfortunately, that’s not what we’re doing today. The legislation we’re debating today … is promoted as a measure to empower college athletes, when in reality it’s a series of blank checks and bailouts to the NCAA,” said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Va., ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee, which marked up the bill, dubbed the SCORE Act.
