Coalition for the Future of College Athletics Submits Letter to Congress Supporting Efforts on Name, Image, and Likeness Legislation
Letter submitted following recent IDC Subcommittee hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 24, 2024) - The Coalition for the Future of College Athletics (C4FCA) today submitted a letter in support of the recent efforts to advance federal name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislation. The letter was submitted to Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) on the heels of the Subcommittee’s recent hearing titled: “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes' Dealmaking Rights.”
C4FCA’s letter acknowledges the bipartisan efforts in both chambers and outlines principles it is seeking in federal legislation, including a uniform national standard, enhancing student-athlete welfare, promoting the role of academics in the collegiate experience, ensuring opportunities continue to be provided for the next generation of student-athletes, and protecting the ability to govern college athletics effectively.
The full text of C4FCA’s letter can be found below.
To learn more about the Coalition for the Future of College Athletics, which includes 35 conferences from across Division I and Division II, visit www.C4FCA.com.
Members of the Coalition include: America East Conference, American Athletic Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic Sun Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, BIG EAST Conference, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big West Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Coastal Athletic Association, Conference USA, East Coast Conference, Great American Conference, Horizon League, Mid-American Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Mountain West Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Pac-12 Conference, Pacific West Conference, Pioneer Football League, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, South Atlantic Conference, Southeastern Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Southern Conference, Summit League, Sun Belt Conference, West Coast Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference.
For media inquiries, please contact press@C4FCA.com.
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January 24, 2024
The Honorable Gus Bilirakis
Chairman
Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Jan Schakowsky
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20515
RE: Statement for the Hearing Record: “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes' Dealmaking Rights.”
Dear Subcommittee Chair Bilirakis and Subcommittee Ranking Member Schakowsky,
Thank you for dedicating the time to hold an important conversation on the future of college athletics. Last week’s hearing represents yet another example of the growing momentum throughout Congress to pass federal legislation establishing a national name, image, and likeness (NIL) framework and address other significant issues concerning college athletics. This hearing also comes on the heels of the release of a discussion draft of the Fairness, Accountability, and Integrity in Representation of College Sports Act (FAIR College Sports Act) issued by Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM). This hearing serves as an important step, and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress to address the immediate issues facing college athletics.
The effort to pass federal legislation is not a Democratic or Republican issue – it is bipartisan and bicameral. That is why we are encouraged by the progress being made not only in the House but in the Senate, with Senators Cruz, Booker, Blumenthal, and Moran all working on legislation in that chamber.
We are confident that Congress will reach a consensus that provides a single, national standard to preclude the current patchwork of state laws, enhance student-athlete welfare, promote the role of academics in the collegiate experience, ensure opportunities continue to be provided for the next generation of student-athletes, and protect the ability to govern college athletics effectively.
Time is running out for Congress to act. While there is still much work to be done on the path to a final piece of legislation, we are pleased to see members of both parties, in both chambers, are prioritizing opportunities for student-athletes and ensuring a fair and uniform system that will guide college athletics into the future.
Sincerely,
The Coalition for the Future of College Athletics
