U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, called on Congress to reform college athletics to better protect student-athletes and ensure their long-term success, according to a Mar. 30 op-ed published in OutKick.
Cassidy's remarks come after a recent committee hearing where former student-athletes and university officials discussed possible reforms for the current state of college sports. The senator said that changes are needed because "college sports are a mess," citing concerns from athletes, coaches, students, parents, and fans.
"Our mission is to set students up for success. Not only on the field or in the classroom, but in their careers after college," Cassidy wrote. He added: "We have a responsibility to meet the moment, get off the sidelines, and get this right. My committee is focused on finding a solution." Cassidy highlighted that less than two percent of college athletes play professionally while many others struggle academically due to frequent transfers and lack of stability.
The senator expressed concern about proposals that would classify student-athletes as employees with collective bargaining rights. He argued this could impose significant costs on universities and threaten smaller programs: "Classifying student-athletes as employees eliminates teams, athletic departments, and in some cases, entire institutions." Cassidy also warned that such measures could disproportionately impact non-revenue-generating sports—many of which provide important opportunities for women—and risk violating Title IX regulations.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee works to legislate on public health issues as well as education policy with oversight over agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to its official website. In the current session of Congress chaired by Cassidy himself according to official records, it influences federal regulations affecting health care systems and educational standards nationwide as reported by its official site.
Looking ahead at next steps for policy development around college athletics reform within his committee’s jurisdiction—which includes oversight of federal laws related not only to education but also labor—Cassidy reiterated: "We have a responsibility to meet the moment...My committee is focused on finding a solution."
