U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell
The Washington Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee criticized the latest version of the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, which the House Rules Committee advanced Monday ahead of an expected full House vote.
"This is a David and Goliath fight," Cantwell said, arguing that the Big Ten and SEC conferences "are trying to rewrite the rules for the rest of colleges and universities that dictate playoff berths, control TV revenue and hold back athlete opportunities."
The revised bill maintains controversial provisions from the original version while adding new language that opponents say further concentrates power among elite programs and reduces athlete protections. According to Cantwell, the changes would allow the NCAA to limit revenue sharing, restrict education-related benefits and establish eligibility rules while stripping athletes of rights to enforce contracts under state law.
The legislation also eliminates a requirement that at least 30 percent of NCAA decision-making body members come from schools outside the 70 highest-revenue programs, potentially giving the Big Ten and SEC greater control over college sports governance.
Cantwell said the revised bill restores NCAA monopoly powers that courts had previously struck down, including the authority to fix prices for education-related payments to athletes. The changes would also preempt state laws protecting athlete health, safety and academic requirements.
The senator has opposed the SCORE Act since its introduction, instead backing her own Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act alongside Sens. Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal. That bill would codify athlete rights, expand revenue for all schools and support women's and Olympic sports.
