Congressman Cohen Moderates Congressional Collegiate Sports Briefing

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today moderated a briefing hosted by the newly re-constituted Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus to discuss issues of student athlete compensation, as well as the fairness and integrity of the games overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Congressman Cohen founded the Collegiate Sports Caucus with former Texas Congressman Joe Barton in 2011.

Congressman Cohen and co-chairs Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Al Lawson (D-FL-05), and Mark Walker (R-NC-06) invited three panelists with expertise in the issues. They were former National Football League player and author Dr. Robert Turner II, former University of Virginia All-American track and field athlete Dr. Tomika Ferguson and former Ohio State football player Maurice Clarett.

After the briefing, Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"The popularity of college athletics is indisputable in both attention drawn and money generated. Players should receive a share of the profits they help create. Since the states are already at work on some of these issues, it is time for Congress to elevate the nationwide discussions around student-athlete compensation, NCAA eligibility rules and the fairness of penalties as well as concussion injuries. We must also do what we can to prevent the shameful sex scandals like those involving gymnasts at Michigan State, wrestlers at Ohio State and football players at Penn State."

Co-Chair statements:

"We launched this bipartisan caucus to engage on the issues regarding a multi-million dollar industry that impacts nearly every district across the United States and that's what this event has allowed us to do," said Davis. "It was good to hear from the experts on many of the issues, including student athletes benefiting from their name, image, and likeness. As states continue to take up individual legislation on this issue, I think it's clear that a federal solution is needed to ensure that all universities are following the same rules to level the playing for student athletes."

"The landscape of college athletics is changing like never before," Rep. Lawson said. "Our goal with the Collegiate Sports Caucus is to bring clarity to the important policy issues facing student-athletes and amateur sports, such as name, image and likeness. It is vital that we have these conversations at the national level as we advocate for responsible and comprehensive legislation."

"Access to your own name, image and likeness is a basic civil right," Walker said. "For too long, our student-athletes have been denied these rights and denied a voice by the NCAA. I look forward to working with this bipartisan caucus to tackle this injustice by insisting the NCAA follow through on their long-broken promises for change."