A U.S. House committee on Thursday approved a bill that would prevent college athletes from being considered employees of a school, conference or governing organization like the NCAA.
The Committee on Education and the Workforce’s action marks the first time in college sports officials’ recent era of Congressional lobbying efforts that a bill has even received a committee vote. Now, the measure can be brought to the House floor.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who wrestled for Liberty University when it was an NCAA Division II school and later worked for the school as an athletics department administrator. Its all-Republican group of co-sponsors includes Education and Workforce Committee chair Virginia Foxx (N.C.). The 23-16 vote approving the measure was along straight party lines.
