WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, September 14, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will host a press conference with more than 30 student athletes and coaches from across the country to discuss the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act and the urgent need for Congress to send the bill to President Trump’s desk. Prior to the August work period, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.D.) locked in a vote on the Protect College Sports Act upon its return.
| WHAT: | Press Conference on the Protect College Sports Act |
| WHO: | Chairman Cruz, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and more than 30 student athletes and coaches from across the country, including legendary coaches John Calipari, Mark Few, Rick Barnes, Craig Bohl, Kelvin Sampson, Ed Cooley, and Craig Robinson. NOTE: Additional members of Congress may attend. Following the press conference, student athletes and coaches will be available to speak with media. |
| WHEN: | Monday, September 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET. NOTE: Credentialed media may arrive at 3:45 p.m. ET. |
| WHERE: | The Senate Swamp – East Front of the U.S. Capitol on the Senate Side Northeast corner of the Capitol facing the Supreme Court |
| RSVP: | Members of the media interested in attending may RSVP to their respective media gallery, as well as to bethany_holden@commerce.senate.gov. Senate Daily Press: 202-224-0241 or senate_press_gallery@saa.senate.gov Senate Periodical Press: 202-224-0265 or periodicals@saa.senate.gov Senate Photographers: 202-224-6548 or press_photo@saa.senate.gov Senate Radio/TV: 202-224-6421 |
Background
The Protect College Sports Act has received overwhelming broad support, including the backing of more than 370 universities and colleges, HBCUs, all collegiate athletic conferences, the FBS Athletics Directors Association, and hundreds of thousands of fans, coaches, student athletes, and key stakeholders. President Trump has supported the legislation and asked Congress to send him the bill “before it’s too late.” College Football Hall of Fame Coach Nick Saban and University of Colorado Head Football Coach Deion Sanders have publicly supported the bill. Further, the legislation has the support of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC), and the National Governing Bodies Council (NGBC).
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