Bipartisan Bill in Congress Seeks Overhaul of NCAA Infractions Process; Congress Virtual Summit Livestream on Web TODAY (Mar 30)

A recent report in Sports Illustrated demonstrates the frustration of members of Congress with the NCAA.  However, one wonders the actual reality of these efforts to become law in an election year.  NCAA reform efforts have stalled the last three years in Congress.

US Senators Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) and Cory Booker (D., N.J.) will introduce a bipartisan bill, the NCAA Accountability Act of 2021, that establishes strict requirements of the long-maligned NCAA infractions process, overhauling the operation by involving the Department of Justice and the U.S. attorney general.

The NCAA Accountability Act of 2021 touches on an oft-criticized process: the NCAA’s enforcement of violations through sometimes years-long investigations. The bill creates a set of deadlines to facilitate quicker investigations, shortens the statute of limitations on violations and establishes a new appeals process.

to read more, link here. 

VIRTUAL SUMMIT IN CONGRESS TODAY (MAR 30) AT 12:15. LIVESTREAM. 

LIVESTREAM ON THE WEB: The event will begin livestreaming on Twitter and Facebook at 12:15pm ET.

And, there will be a virtual summit today  at 12:15pm, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) will host Madness, Inc., a live virtual summit featuring three panels with current and former college athletes and advocates to discuss the gross inequities in college sports and how we fix them.

Trahan and Murphy wrote the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which grants unrestricted rights to college athletes over the use of their name, image, and likeness. They also partnered with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to introduce the College Athlete Right to Organize Act, legislation to provide collective bargaining rights for college athletes. Blumenthal and Booker authored the College Athletes Bill of Rights to guarantee fair and equitable compensation, enforceable health and safety standards, and improved educational opportunities for all college athletes.

12:25pm: Empowering Athletes, Moderated by Senator Murphy

·  U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman, Co-sponsor of the College Athlete Right to Organize Act

·  Bart Sheard, Legislative Representative with the AFL-CIO

·  Kassidy Woods, Member of University of Northern Colorado Football Team

1:00pm: Achieving Gender Equity, Moderated by Congresswoman Trahan

·  Sedona Prince, University of Oregon Women’s Basketball Player 

·  Sydney Moore, Voice in Sport Representative and Member of Cornell Volleyball Team

·  Katie Lever, Chief Communications Officer of the Drake Group and former Western Kentucky University Track and Cross Country Runner

1:55pm: Protecting Athlete Wellbeing, Moderated by Senators Blumenthal and Booker

·  Ramogi Huma, Executive Director of the National College Players Association and Former UCLA Football Player

·  Tim Nevius, Nevius Legal and Former University of Dayton Baseball Player

·  Brittany Collens, Professional Tennis Player and Former UMass-Amherst College Athlete

 

-SRH-