Congress debates student-athlete rights, advances bill to exempt college athletes from employee status, claims insider

The House Education and Workforce Committee has advanced a student-athlete bill that seeks to exempt college athletes from being classified as employees. Named the "Protecting Student Athlete's Economic Freedom Act" (H.R. 8534), the bill was approved in a 23-16 vote along party lines, with Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it.

If passed by the full House and the Senate, the bill would prevent college athletes from being recognized as employees, a move that the NCAA endorses.

Jesse Dougherty, an insider from The Washington Post, highlighted the committee's actions on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the bill is now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

Additionally, according to his tweet, Rep. Lori Trahan, a former college volleyball player, expressed strong opposition to the bill, criticizing the Republicans for advancing legislation she believes limits the rights of college athletes without sufficient input from the athletes themselves.

In her statement, Trahan pointed out that the bill addresses a "hypothetical issue" rather than tackling existing challenges, such as Title IX loopholes and the lack of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for international athletes. She vowed to vote against the bill and urged her Democratic colleagues to do the same if it reaches the House floor.

Student-athlete bill introduced to maintain tradition of college sports

The bill, put forward by Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia), received a favorable vote from a Congressional committee on Thursday, advancing it to the next stage of the legislative process. According to ESPN, this bill is designed to counteract ongoing efforts, including those by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Johnson v. NCAA case, which seek to establish college athletes as employees.

The lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the Johnson case, Paul McDonald, criticized the bill, arguing that it violates federal equal protection laws. He pointed out that other college students, such as cafeteria workers and teaching assistants, are allowed to earn wages and unionize, and it would be illegal to deny the same rights to student-athletes.

He also expressed doubt about the bill’s survival in a judicial challenge. However, Rep. Good defended his bill, emphasizing its intent to maintain the traditional balance between athletics and academics in college sports. He believes that the legislation will help ensure that college sports programs remain viable, beneficial and enjoyable for all student-athletes.

The bill's advancement is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the status and rights of college athletes within the collegiate sports system. As the legislation progresses, it is expected to face further scrutiny and debate in both Congress and the public arena.