Pledging
These are the original issues in this subcategory
  • AMATEUR ATHLETE COMPENSATION
  • CTE INJURIES
  • NCAA
Winning Issue » NCAA


The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit entity that administers intercollegiate athletic programs for 1,268 colleges. The NCAA is accused of exploiting many young athletes because it reaps billions of dollars for itself and other private entities while denying compensation for those responsible for its success. It is said the NCAA and universities pay little to furnish the “theater, actors, lights, music and audience for a drama that is neatly measured into TV time slots. The only things the networks need to bring are their cameras and a check.” It is estimated that $19 billion is annually generated by university athletic programs through ticket sales, television contracts, endorsements and advertising.

Most scholarship athletes live in poverty conditions while attending college. Often, the demands of college sports leave little time for part-time jobs or for majoring in challenging curricula. In order to maintain academic eligibility, some universities funnel its athletes into worthless, fraudulent classes without significant attendance, studying or grading requirements. NCAA officials claim its athletes are fairly compensated with $100,000 scholarships which cover tuition, fees, room and board. Opponents disagree, saying most of these scholarships are not worth much because many universities leave athletes unprepared for post-sport careers. Many universities also do not provide health insurance to scholarship athletes, and revoke the scholarships of those who get injured or who do not perform as well as expected. Other NCAA criticisms include its practice of selling ads and product endorsements featuring a player wearing a sponsor’s clothing, or being portrayed in a video game without compensation. The NCAA is also criticized for its lack of due-process protections when taking disciplinary actions against athletes and schools.

Dealing a blow to the NCAA's current business model, the Supreme Court has recently ruled for an incremental increase in how college athletes can be compensated. This suggests that the NCAA's rules that restrict any type of compensation - including direct payment for athletic accomplishments - might no longer hold up in future antitrust challenges.

Proposed legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.2672 - NCAA Act (116th Congress 2019-2020)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. John Katko (NY)



Polling Options

  • I oppose reforming current NCAA policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
  • I support establishing requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have intercollegiate athletic programs and participate in nonprofit athletic associations by prohibiting such IHEs from receiving federal financial aid if the IHEs are members of nonprofit athletic associations that do not: 1.) Require annual baseline concussion testing prior to student athletes' participation in contact sports. 2.) Require certain due process procedures for students and institutions prior to enforcing a remedy for infractions. 3.) Require athletically related student aid to be guaranteed for the duration of the student's attendance, up to five years, and irrevocable for reasons related to athletic skill or injury. 4.) Restrict the ability of IHEs to pay stipends to student athletes. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. John Katko (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.


Winning Option

  • I support establishing requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have intercollegiate athletic programs and participate in nonprofit athletic associations by prohibiting such IHEs from receiving federal financial aid if the IHEs are members of nonprofit athletic associations that do not:

    1.) Require annual baseline concussion testing prior to student athletes' participation in contact sports.

    2.) Require certain due process procedures for students and institutions prior to enforcing a remedy for infractions.

    3.) Require athletically related student aid to be guaranteed for the duration of the student's attendance, up to five years, and irrevocable for reasons related to athletic skill or injury.

    4.) Restrict the ability of IHEs to pay stipends to student athletes.

    And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. John Katko (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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Pledge Period - Opening Date
March 20, 2023
Pledge Period - Closing Date
March 26, 2023
Trustee Election - Begins
March 27, 2023


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