Pasco Reporter

Washington DC - U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis, along with Representative Debbie Dingell and Senator Ben Ray Lujan, is actively working on a bipartisan, bicameral bill to establish a national framework for compensating college athletes for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. The aim is to create a system that is fair, transparent, and beneficial for all, while preserving the integrity of college athletics.

Congressman Bilirakis emphasizes the need to protect young athletes and promote opportunities for them. He believes that it is Congress' responsibility to establish clear rules to ensure a level playing field for all students and educational institutions across the nation. The Discussion Draft legislation strikes a delicate balance between allowing college athletes to profit from their NIL deals and maintaining their amateur status.

Senator Lujan supports the discussion draft and highlights the importance of protecting the rights of student athletes to engage in NIL deals while ensuring transparency and oversight. He points out the potential influence of unregulated groups attempting to sway recruitment and transfers with large amounts of money.

Representative Dingell, representing a district with a significant college athlete population, is committed to crafting federal legislation that treats all players fairly, protects and elevates female athletes, and maintains the integrity of college sports. She recognizes the need to involve all stakeholders in the process, including athletes, coaches, universities, and conferences.

The proposed FAIR College Sports Act Discussion Draft Framework aims to protect the rights of student athletes to earn compensation from their NIL, while prohibiting pay-for-play and inducements offered by boosters and third parties. It also requires transparency and registration for agents, boosters, and third-party licensees involved in NIL deals.

To oversee and enforce the NIL process, the framework establishes an independent non-governmental organization called the US Intercollegiate Athletics Commission (USIAC). The USIAC will set rules, provide guidance to student athletes and collectives, and ensure transparency through a registration process, a database for NIL information, and quarterly reports.

The proposed framework also preempts state laws, providing a national standard for college athletics.

As college sports continue to evolve, it is crucial to create a system that protects and empowers college athletes. The collaboration between Bilirakis, Dingell, Lujan, and other members of Congress aims to address the concerns and input from all interested parties and ensure the future of collegiate sports remains bright.