WASHINGTON, D.C. –More than 20 collegiate athletic conferences, representing 228 colleges and universities across 46 States, including historically black colleges and universities and current student-athletes, have publicly supported and praised the Protect College Sports Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.). The legislation aims to end the uncertainty and disorder facing college athletics. The committee is slated to mark up the legislation on Thursday, June 18, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
On Tuesday, the following organizations announced new support for the bill: United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), National Governing Body Council (NGBC), Team USA Athletes’ Commission (AC), National Football League, National Football League Players Association, and the National Basketball Players Association.
The following collegiate athletic conferences are supporting the bill: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), American Conference, Big 12, Big Sky Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference (MAC), Horizon League, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Mountain West Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, PAC 12, Patriot League, Sun Belt Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), The Big West Conference, The Summit League, Western Athletic Conference, and the West Coast Conference.
In addition to organizations and conferences, the following schools have supported the legislation: Duke University, Wake Forest University, Southern Methodist University, Syracuse University, University of Louisville, Virginia Tech, Rice University, University of Texas – San Antonio, Baylor University, Kansas State University, Texas Christian University, University of Colorado Boulder, Florida International University, University of Texas – El Paso, Washington State University, Texas Southern University, University of Nebraska, University of Southern Mississippi, Keene State, Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.
Interested parties that support the Protect College Sports Act include: Student-athletes of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), American Conference Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee (SAAC), Presidents, Chancellors, current and former Board Chairs and governing Board Members of colleges and universities across the United States, Members of the President’s Roundtable on Fixing College Sports, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
To see a full list of supporters, click HERE.
To read a one-pager on the legislation, click HERE.
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