Will the Feds Catch Up With the States on College Athletes’ Economic Rights?
By Ken Reed
Six states have already passed legislation that will give college athletes the right to profit from use of their names, images and likenesses (NILs). In addition, 29 states now have active NIL legislation in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has said they are open to increasing athletes’ economic rights but continue to delay any action on the matter.
Members of Congress have introduced multiple federal bills with the primary objective of giving college athletes a slice of the $15 billion college sports industry. Earlier this month, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass) introduced a new bill called the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which would give athletes wide-ranging rights regarding earning NIL income. It would preempt any state legislation if it passes.
Murphy said in a statement:
“I love college sports, but it’s time to admit that something is very rotten when the industry makes $15 billion a year and many athletes can’t afford to put food on the table or pay for a plane ticket for their parents to see them perform.
“Big time college athletics look no different than professional leagues, and it’s time for us to stop denying the right of college athletes to make money off their talents. If predominantly white coaches and NCAA executives can have unfettered endorsement deals, why shouldn’t predominantly black athletes be afforded the same opportunity? … Giving students a right to make money off endorsements is just one part of a much broader package of reforms that need to be made to college athletics, but it’s a good start.”
The problem is, Congress never takes action on these bills. In previous sessions of Congress, Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) have introduced similar economic rights bills for college athletes. None seem to make it to the floor for a vote.
The states have seen this inaction on the part of the NCAA and Congress and are moving ahead on their own to provide college athletes with economic justice.
“Now that we’re seeing multiple states moving ahead, we want to make sure no Iowa athlete is left behind,” says Iowa state senator Nate Boulton (D).
Bravo to the states for taking the lead on this issue. However, ultimately, Congress is going to have to pass legislation in this area that overrides state legislation. Otherwise, the college sports scene will be a jumbled mess if 50 states have different laws regarding the economic rights of college athletes.
There is a positive on this public policy issue, and it’s that NIL legislation appears to have bipartisan backing.
It’s time to get something done.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans

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"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- League of Fans Sports Policy Director Ken Reed quoted in Washington Post column titled "What happened to P.E.? It’s losing ground in our push for academic improvement," by Jay Mathews
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Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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