U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has issued a statement regarding President Trump's Executive Order on college sports. The order aims to regulate college sports in relation to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
"The many challenges facing college sports are important and complex," said Sen. Cantwell. "The Executive Order recognizes the importance of preserving Olympic sports, women’s sports, and maintaining competitiveness for big and small schools alike. I’m disappointed that the President abandoned his earlier plan for a commission to examine all the issues facing college sports. We need a sustainable future for college sports, not a future dominated by the biggest and wealthiest schools who can write their own rules without accountability."
This comes after the NCAA v. Alston Supreme Court case in January 2021, which changed how student athletes could be compensated. Previously limited to costs directly related to attending school such as scholarships and living expenses, athletes can now receive compensation through NIL.
