GOP Staffer Urged SEC to Support College Sports Bill Before Midterms
If the Democrats win the House, “you won’t see this bill… being considered.”
In a memo sent hours before the SEC endorsed the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), Republican Senate Commerce Committee staff director Brad Grantz warned that the conference should back the bill or face a Democrat version with collective bargaining and employee status for athletes. Grantz noted that after the midterm elections, it was unlikely that the bill would be considered due to the expected House control by Democrats.
The Democratic party's demands included employee status, collective bargaining rights, and private right of action for athletes. Grantz's memo also highlighted the concessions the Senate had made to accommodate the SEC, such as a fund for schools to retain athletes, increased disclosure for name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, antitrust protections, and new certifications for NIL deals.
However, he cautioned that the bill's bipartisan support was crucial and warned that lawmakers could only go so far without jeopardizing that support. Regarding the possibility of Democrats gaining control of Congress and granting athletes employee status with collective bargaining rights, Grantz's warning was deemed "unduly alarmist" by law professor Michael LeRoy, a specialist in labor and employment relations.
LeRoy argued that even if Democrats gained control of Capitol Hill, the Senate filibuster and President Trump's likely veto would prevent any radical reforms.
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