House not likely to take up Senate-approved rules for college sports compensation before election
by Mary McCue Bell · The Washington TimesReeling in House members during recess for a vote on a student-athlete compensation bill has a slim chance of coming to fruition.
With five weeks until a consequential election day that will determine control of Congress, the House is out for the count to campaign, meaning the Protect College Sports Act is not a priority for the lower chamber.
The Senate passed the landmark legislation to federally regulate college sports compensation, transfers and scholarships Monday night in a 77-22 vote.
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The bill guarantees athletes the right to profit from their name, image and likeness, known as NIL. It also sets rules on athletes’ ability to transfer schools, and requires top-tier schools to maintain programs and scholarships for sports that do not draw as much attention.
But the House is on recess until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, leaving a narrow and uncertain window during the lame-duck session.
A senior House aide told The Washington Times that members on both sides of the aisle have “concerns” with the legislation, adding that there is no plan currently for an immediate return to address challenges with the bill.
Rep. Michael Baumgartner, Washington Republican, who introduced the House companion to the Protect College Sports Act, predicted Monday that the bill will “have a better than 50% chance in the House.”
Even with President Trump’s backing, it will need Democratic votes, he added, meaning the “Dem [Congressional Black Caucus] will be a factor.”
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The House’s Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act, known as the SCORE Act, also aimed at regulating name, image and likeness, or NIL. However, the bill faced a stalled path in the House due to a lack of sufficient bipartisan backing, including a holdout from the Congressional Black Caucus.
When asked about the Protect College Sports Act last week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he will “continue to support the position that has been articulated by the rest of the Black Caucus and by the NAACP relative to anything related to collegiate sports legislation moving its way through the Senate or eventually coming to the House.”
Ultimately, it’s up to House leadership to put it to a floor vote. Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, may face heavy lobbying from the White House.
Mr. Trump promoted the bill in a halftime interview on Saturday during the high-profile Texas vs. Tennessee college football game.
He explicitly put pressure on the House to act, saying, “We have to get it voted on and we’re counting on the House, and I think the House will come through too.”
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The president also expressed confidence that leadership can push the overhaul across the finish line.
Following the Senate’s final passage of the bill, co-sponsor Sen. Ted Cruz said it had been about two weeks since he last spoke to Mr. Johnson.
“At the end of the day, it is the speaker’s decision,” the Texas Republican told Yahoo Sports. “But I had a very positive and lengthy conversation with the speaker about doing so. I hope he will do so, and I think that that would be a win-win for everyone.”
Mr. Cruz told reporters Monday night he hopes Mr. Johnson will herd the House back to Washington for a vote.
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“The House can pass it in a single day and put it on the president’s desk,” he said. “President Trump is eager to sign this legislation.”
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Mary McCue Bell
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