Today, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the SCORE Act in Washington, D.C. The legislation aims to establish a national framework for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college athletics. The group includes House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Congressman Shomari C. Figures (D-AL).
Subcommittee Chairman Fitzgerald emphasized the need for this legislation: "Student athletes are the embodiment of the American Dream. But that dream is at a crossroads due to the uncertainty facing college athletics." He expressed gratitude towards participants in a Judiciary Committee roundtable for informing the bill's development.
Congressman Figures highlighted how drastically college sports have changed with NIL: “The current college sports environment has drastically changed in the NIL era and this bill provides a framework to where students can not only be compensated but also have access to resources like health care and financial literacy courses."
Congressman Fry pointed out that "The SCORE Act is a significant step forward for name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college sports," aiming to bring order to what he described as chaos.
Chairmen Jordan, Guthrie, and Walberg commented on how NIL offers opportunities but noted existing challenges: "NIL offers an endless array of opportunities for student-athletes... The SCORE Act creates a national framework that supports student-athletes."
The SCORE Act seeks to address issues arising from inconsistent state laws by reaffirming a student-first model, defending Olympic sports, shielding athletes from exploitation, establishing regulatory authority and enforcement mechanisms, and improving transparency.
Original co-sponsors include several representatives across party lines such as Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) who sponsored it alongside others like Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR).
