Thune Discusses the Importance of Protecting College Sports and Athletes

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it’s no coincidence that the largest stadium in the United States is a college football stadium. “College athletics has a unique place in America. “It’s deeply rooted in our communities and families. “For student athletes, their sport is an important part of their education. “What they learn from their coaches, teammates, and on the playing field, they carry with them throughout their lives. “And there’s nothing like the opportunity to compete in front of your friends, classmates, parents, and professors. “We could say the same about fans in the stands: there’s nothing quite like a college sporting event. “There’s something very unifying about it. “Game day brings together people from every walk of life: “Fans who attended that university and often many who didn’t attend, but nevertheless are a part of that school’s community – all of them united by their love for the school. “Mr. President, anyone who knows me knows I’m a sports fan. “I spend a lot of time at games when I’m back home in South Dakota. “And whether I’m in a high school gym on a Friday night, at a tailgate on a Saturday morning, at the DakotaDome or the Premier Center – in a conversation with sports fans, the current state of college athletics is bound to come up. “Mr. President, anyone who follows college sports knows that the last few years have been complex and, at times, chaotic. “Higher numbers of student athletes are entering the transfer portal, and rosters are being overhauled each season. “Eligibility rules have been stretched – most notably with former professional players being recruited back to a college campus. “And amid the arms race in revenue-generating sports and among larger institutions, smaller schools and non-revenue sports are increasingly anxious about the future. “Smaller institutions risk losing stand-out players to schools with bigger budgets. “And last year, it was reported that 41 Olympic sports programs were cut across NCAA Division I athletics programs, affecting over 1,000 student athletes. “Mr. President, this status quo cannot continue. “And to restore stability to the college sports ecosystem, Mr. President, we need national standards – not a patchwork of state laws. “Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell – and a number of our colleagues on the Commerce Committee – we have a bill to do that. “And yesterday, we moved forward to begin debate on that bill: the Protect College Sports Act, which preserves the opportunities that have been available to student athletes for generations and ensures those opportunities can coexist with the new opportunities available to the current generation of college athletes. “Mr. President, the Protect College Sports Act addresses some of the largest issues in college athletics today, and in doing so, it restores stability to the college sports ecosystem. “And that starts with uniform eligibility rules: “One transfer without loss of eligibility. “A maximum five years of playing time starting at college enrollment or on the athlete’s 19th birthday. “And no professional athletes. “This bill also bans coaches from switching schools mid-season, ensuring that athletes have the same coach at the end of the season as they did at the start. “And it brings transparency to [athlete] compensation, protects student athletes from bad actors, and safeguards opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports. “Mr. President, this bill has been a work in progress for a number of years. “I’m grateful for all the hard work that went into getting it right. “I’ve sat down with college athletes in my state to get their perspective. “I’ve talked to coaches and athletic directors. “And I know I’m not the only senator to have done so. “Getting this type of input is the only way that you get a bill like this. “A bill that has broad bipartisan support. “That has support from more than 30 college athletic conferences. “Hundreds of universities in all 50 states and in Washington, D.C. “And from hundreds of thousands of student athletes – which is the most important support of all. “Mr. President, I mentioned that I’m a sports fan. “I’m also part of a sports family. “My dad was a Big 10 basketball player in the early 1940s. “He got the chance to play point guard for the University of Minnesota, where he was the team MVP. “He was the high point man at a game in Madison Square Garden – quite a journey for a small town kid from South Dakota. “My daughter ran cross country and track for Belmont University and was inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame. “Mr. President, the question before us is whether the same opportunities that were available for my dad and for my daughter will be available for the next generation of student athletes. “We have a responsibility to them to protect college sports so they can focus on their sport, their education, and their future.”