Democracy Rules

In 2021, college sports teams generated about $1.15 billion in revenue for their universities and the NCAA. Many athletic directors and coaches also earn millions of dollars in annual salaries and endorsements. However, even though most college athletes practice and train 12 months a year while attending school full time, the NCAA insists they are amateurs and ineligible to be compensated more than the scholarships they receive. Critics claim this convenient rule allows the exploitation of many young American men and women, saying other students attend universities on non-athletic scholarships and are not forced to physically work hard, risk serious injury or help make millions for their school and the NCAA. Financial stress causes many of these young athletes to drop out of school or leave early in an attempt to play in professional leagues. Most universities do not provide health insurance to scholarship athletes, and many revoke the scholarships of those who get injured or who do not perform as well as expected.

Compensation proponents say colleges should be allowed to give stipends, jobs and health insurance to these athletes. One study found the average cost to colleges for awarding a full scholarship to an athlete is about $3,200. It also found the fair market value of a football and basketball player at a Division-1 university was more than $120,000 and $265,000 respectively. These values more than tripled for athletes playing at top sports schools. Since athletic scholarships do not cover all student costs and most athletes do not have time for a job, at least 85% of all scholarship players live below the poverty line. Critics point out that athletes do not get paid royalties from the sale of their jerseys or for digital appearances in video games. Even after athletes have left college, the NCAA retains some of these licensing rights in perpetuity. Critics claim that everyone - including the NCAA, colleges, coaches, TV networks, advertisers, apparel and video game manufacturers make money off our “amateur” athletes - except the athletes themselves.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of S.414 - Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2021
Prospective Sponsor: Sen. Jerry Moran (KS)

I oppose reforming current amateur athlete compensation policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader Charles Schumer (NY).
I I support providing standards relating to compensation for the use of the names, images, and likenesses of amateur intercollegiate athletes and protections for these athletes by: 1.) Providing compensation for such an athlete only by unaffiliated third parties. Currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association and colleges generally prohibit student athletes from receiving compensation. 2.) A national amateur athletic association or institution of higher education may not punish an athlete in an amateur intercollegiate athletic event or competition based on the athlete having entered into an agency contract with an amateur athlete representative certified by the Amateur Intercollegiate Athletics Corporation (AIAC) established by this bill. 3.) An amateur intercollegiate athletics association shall allow an amateur intercollegiate athlete to transfer from one institution of higher education to another at least once without losing or delaying eligibility for intercollegiate athletics if specified conditions are met. 4.) The AIAC shall serve as a clearinghouse for best practices with respect to the rights and protections of amateur intercollegiate athletes who enter into agency and endorsement contracts. 5.) Requiring institutions of higher education to provide a certain level of health care coverage for such athletes. Such institutions must make specified legally binding disclosures to each athlete before he or she commits to enroll in or attend the institution. 6.) Requiring the institution to comply with requirements of this bill in order to participate in certain federal student financial aid programs. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» No issues were voted

I I support providing standards relating to compensation for the use of the names, images, and likenesses of amateur intercollegiate athletes and protections for these athletes by: 1.) Providing compensation for such an athlete only by unaffiliated third parties. Currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association and colleges generally prohibit student athletes from receiving compensation. 2.) A national amateur athletic association or institution of higher education may not punish an athlete in an amateur intercollegiate athletic event or competition based on the athlete having entered into an agency contract with an amateur athlete representative certified by the Amateur Intercollegiate Athletics Corporation (AIAC) established by this bill. 3.) An amateur intercollegiate athletics association shall allow an amateur intercollegiate athlete to transfer from one institution of higher education to another at least once without losing or delaying eligibility for intercollegiate athletics if specified conditions are met. 4.) The AIAC shall serve as a clearinghouse for best practices with respect to the rights and protections of amateur intercollegiate athletes who enter into agency and endorsement contracts. 5.) Requiring institutions of higher education to provide a certain level of health care coverage for such athletes. Such institutions must make specified legally binding disclosures to each athlete before he or she commits to enroll in or attend the institution. 6.) Requiring the institution to comply with requirements of this bill in order to participate in certain federal student financial aid programs. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.