U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a hearing on March 27 focused on reforms in college athletics and the future status of student-athletes. Cassidy said Congress should prioritize the educational success of student-athletes while bringing stability to college sports.
The issue is significant as it affects not only athletes but also institutions, businesses, and communities across the country. The debate centers around whether student-athletes should be classified as employees—a move that could have wide-ranging effects on college sports programs.
“People love college sports,” said Bill Cassidy. “[A]s important as that is, student-athletes can change the trajectory of their life by participating in college athletics.” He continued: “[T]he current system is unsustainable.”
Witnesses at the hearing included Dr. Trayvean Scott from Grambling State University and former LSU basketball player Collis Temple. Scott warned that reclassifying athletes as employees could lead to reduced roster spots for non-revenue sports such as baseball and football at smaller schools like Grambling State University. “For an institution like Grambling State University where we have 15 Division I sports, that means baseball is probably going to go first. Alright, football is going to reduce roster spots,” said Scott.
Temple addressed opportunities beyond professional athletics: “Every student-athlete who goes to a university and completes an academic performance standard has an opportunity to be a pro. We just need to realize that ‘pros’ are mathematicians. ‘Pros’ are scientists. ‘Pros’ are English teachers,” he said.
Abby Lynch, a former athlete from the University of Illinois, raised concerns about how classifying athletes as employees might threaten women’s sports protected by Title IX: “[I]t would be more expensive than you are expecting,” she said. She added: “[W]omen’s sports and Olympic sports… are at a threat under an employment model.”
As chairman during the 119th Congress according to the official website, Cassidy has led discussions with other senators and experts seeking input from stakeholders about possible legislative solutions for these challenges.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee plays a key role in shaping federal policy regarding health care access and education according to its official website. The committee oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), providing oversight for laws affecting public health as described by its official website.
Looking ahead, Cassidy continues efforts within his committee—which influences federal regulations affecting health care providers and educators nationwide—to gather information from stakeholders before making any recommendations or decisions according to its official website.
