WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday released the following statement:
“Professional-level payouts for college coaches are only possible because colleges and the NCAA illegally collude to directly restrict compensation for the mostly Black athletes so that the mostly white coaches and industry executives get to keep all the profits for themselves. That's shameful. While athletes can finally make money off endorsements, it's clear we need to go further to right the wrongs at the core of the college sports industry. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to give college athletes the power to collectively bargain for the fair compensation and protections they deserve. This is a civil rights issue that will continue to stain the world of college sports if Congress doesn’t act,” said Murphy.
Murphy has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of reforming college sports. Murphy along with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act, legislation to provide collective bargaining rights for college athletes. Murphy also wrote the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act with Rep. Lori Trahan, which grants unrestricted rights to college athletes over the use of their name, image, and likeness.
This summer, Murphy issued a statement as state NIL laws come into effect across the country and praised the unanimous Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v Alston. In March, Murphy issued a statement after the Supreme Court heard NCAA v Alston.
In 2019, Murphy published a series of reports that exposed the ways the college sports industry mistreats and exploits college athletes. The first of these Madness, Inc. reports examined how colleges generate billions in revenues and enrich everyone but the athletes. That report found that coaches' salaries at the 65 Power Five Conference schools total more than all the scholarships and aid provided for the athletes combined.
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