Ricketts, Hickenlooper Join Protect College Sports Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) became the latest cosponsors of the Protect College Sports Act, joining Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The legislation, which would fix the current turmoil in college sports, has the backing of millions of fans and student athletes.
The Protect College Sports Act aims to end the disorder facing college athletics by establishing nationwide standards for name, image, and likeness (NIL), transfers, eligibility, and enforcement. A national survey found that 81% of Americans believe the Protect College Sports Act would do more to protect student athletes and preserve women’s and Olympic sports programs.
Majority Leader Thune filed cloture on the procedural motion to advance to the bill on Wednesday, roughly two months after the introduction of the legislation and just over five weeks since an overwhelmingly bipartisan committee vote (19-9) to advance the bill. This action brings the Protect College Sports Act one step closer to Senate passage.
With the support of the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, the Protect College Sports Act now has the backing of 28 collegiate athletic conferences, more than 370 colleges and universities across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., historically black colleges and universities, hundreds of thousands of student athletes, and President Trump, marking a significant milestone as the bill advances in Congress.
Upon announcing his support, Senator Ricketts said: “The Protect College Sports Act is a good step forward for athletics. This bipartisan bill addresses issues that were causing chaos in college sports, like eligibility requirements and NIL. These improvements will better support student athletes while preserving the tradition of college sports.”
Senator Hickenlooper said: “This bill is a much-needed step forward to protect the Olympic athletes who represent our country on the world stage while giving Colorado’s universities the stability they need to keep competing across all sports. We fought to protect the sports that too often get left behind and preserve opportunities for student-athletes as college athletics become more commercialized. We urge the Senate to pass this bill soon to create a more stable collegiate sports system.”
Chairman Cruz said: “Momentum continues to grow for the Protect College Sports Act. With the start of the school year around the corner, the time to pass this bill through the Senate and House and send it to President Trump’s desk is now. The Protect College Sports Act, which notably has the backing of 28 collegiate conferences, is our last best chance to preserve one of America’s great unifying traditions for the athletes who compete and the fans who fill the stands. I thank Senators Ricketts and Hickenlooper for cosponsoring this landmark, bipartisan bill, and I look forward to its overwhelming passage on the Senate floor.”
To view a fact sheet on the legislation, click HERE.
To view the full list of supporters, click HERE.
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