This week, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., unveiled some of the text of the “Fairness Accountability and Integrity in Representation of College Sports Act (FAIR College Sports Act)” that he is working on.
“This legislation would preempt current and future state-level name, image, and likeness (NIL) laws to ensure there is one national framework to govern how collegiate athletes receive compensation for such activities. The release of this discussion draft follows Subcommittee activity over the past two Congresses where members heard testimony from current and former collegiate athletes, university presidents and athletic directors, the NCAA, and conference presidents imploring Congress to take action to create a level playing field for all students and educational institutions across the nation. This discussion draft represents the next step in a robust process to solicit formal feedback from all stakeholders and elected officials regarding the portions of the text that are within the primary jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee,” the congressman’s office noted.
“It is Congress’ responsibility to establish a clear set of rules so our young people are protected, opportunities for them are promoted, and amateur sports of all kinds are preserved. Our goal is to ensure that NIL deals are transparent and fair, while protecting the integrity of college athletics,” said Bilirakis. “I am intent on following a deliberative process that is open to more recommendations so we strike the delicate balance of preserving the ability of college athletes to profit from their own NIL, while maintaining the amateur status of all college athletes. I am confident we can create a system that is fair, transparent, and beneficial for all.”
As he continues to assemble the “FAIR College Sports Act,” Bilirakis’ office noted that it would “protect the rights of student athletes to earn compensation and sign agents to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL); ban pay-for-play by prohibiting boosters, collectives, and other third parties from offering inducements to attend or transfer to specific institutions or to perform specific in-competition actions or promotions; require transparency and registration for agents, boosters, collectives, and third-party licensees when NIL deals are signed to ensure disclosure on the types of deals signed, amount of money involved, and actual activities performed because of an NIL agreement, and establishes an independent US Intercollegiate Athletics Commission (USIAC) to oversee, set rules, enforce, and provide guidance to student athletes and collectives on the NIL process.”
