Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks on Mar. 26 during a hearing focused on reforming college athletics to better protect students and support their success.
The hearing addressed growing concerns about the changing landscape of college sports, including the effects of student-athletes receiving payment and potential exploitation. Cassidy said, “People love college sports. They gather at bars and love to talk about it. I’m an LSU fan. There’s nothing like a Saturday in Death Valley… Few things bring people together like college sports; they are the heartbeat of communities.” He highlighted how scholarships can help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education, saying, “Student-athletes can break out of poverty thanks to sports scholarships. They got a shot!”
Cassidy also discussed economic impacts, noting that events such as LSU home football games bring significant revenue to local communities. He expressed concern over recent changes in rules around athlete compensation: “For the first time, student-athletes are getting paid… The bad thing is people are preying upon young athletes, exploiting them to make decisions that could leave them without a degree.” Cassidy warned that current trends could lead schools to cut non-revenue sports and reduce opportunities for many students.
He stated, “It is fair to say that court decisions, lack of rules, and insufficient leadership have created confusion, and opened the door to exploitation.” Cassidy emphasized that any solution should protect student-athletes as students first: “To best serve student-athletes’ interests, any solution we come up with must protect student-athletes as students.”
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee works on legislation concerning public health, education policy and workforce issues according to its official website. In the 119th Congress Cassidy served as chair of this committee according to its official website. The committee influences federal regulations across health and education nationwide according to its official website, provides oversight for federal laws in these areas according to its official website, and oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) according to its official website.
Cassidy concluded by encouraging action from Congress: “Let’s bring stability so students and institutions can navigate without unnecessary burden or costs… This hearing is how do we set up the student-athlete for success whether he or she attend a Power 5, an NAIA, a mid-major or an HBCU; and along the way make sure we take care of universities too.”
