U.S. House Postpones Vote on College Athlete Compensation Bill

Washington — The U.S. House of Representatives postponed a crucial vote on the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements, commonly referred to as the SCORE Act, which aims to establish a national framework for college-athlete compensation. The decision came on September 27, 2023, when Majority Whip Tom Emmer‘s office announced that consideration of the bill would be delayed without providing a specific reason.

The SCORE Act seeks to prevent student-athletes from being classified as employees and offers broad antitrust immunity to the NCAA and college sports conferences. The bill has garnered bipartisan support, with lead sponsors including Republican Gus Bilirakis of Florida and Democratic representatives Janelle Bynum of Oregon and Shomari Figures of Alabama. Other co-sponsors include prominent Republicans such as Brett Guthrie, Tim Walberg, Jim Jordan, and Lisa McClain.

Concerns over the bill’s implications have led to significant opposition from Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that it could undermine student-athlete rights and grant the NCAA excessive authority. Notably, Republican Chip Roy from Texas referred to the legislation as a “Band-Aid on a gunshot wound” during a House Rules Committee hearing, highlighting the mixed sentiments even within the GOP. Despite these criticisms, the House adopted the rule for floor debate with a narrow 210-209 vote.

Ongoing Debate Over College Athlete Rights

The college sports landscape has been in turmoil since the NCAA implemented guidelines in 2021 allowing student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Currently, a fragmented set of state laws governs NIL arrangements, and there is no overarching federal legislation. In June 2023, a federal judge approved nearly $2.8 billion in antitrust settlements, which could enable schools to pay athletes directly.

The SCORE Act is not the only legislative proposal on the table. In the Senate, Democratic senators Maria Cantwell, Cory Booker, and Richard Blumenthal introduced the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act, known as the SAFE Act, in September. This competing bill aims to provide comprehensive protections for student-athletes, including establishing standardized health and safety guidelines, safeguarding scholarships, and requiring agents to adhere to specific contractual obligations.

As discussions continue, the fate of the SCORE Act remains uncertain, particularly in the face of strong opposition in the Senate. The outcome of this legislation could have significant implications for the future of college athletics, shaping how student-athletes are compensated and treated within the framework of higher education sports.