House Delays Vote On SCORE Act Due To Lack of Support

A vote on the SCORE Act, the college sports bill that will change the NCAA’s landscape if passed, has been delayed due to a lack of support in the House.

The SCORE Act (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements) is designed to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of student athletes to promote fair compensation. If passed, it would officially classify student-athletes as amateurs, not employees, and it would also give the NCAA and its schools antitrust protection, making it more difficult for them to be sued.

Multiple outlets reported Thursday that after it was planned to be brought to the House floor for a vote next week, House Republicans have delayed it after being unable to secure the votes.

According to Front Office Sports (FOS), House majority leader Steve Scalise and lobbyists had been working to ensure the bill would pass, and it looked as though it would, primarily along party lines. Five House Democrats had signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, which gave the Republicans a bit of a cushion.

However, things changed last Sunday, with several House Republicans criticizing the bill and several of them flipping. FOS reports that they flipped after being swayed by Texas Tech booster and oil billionaire Cody Campbell. Campbell was named by President Donald Trump to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition in July.

Campbell supports parts of the SCORE Act bill, but is pushing for Congress to establish a new body to replace the NCAA. He also wants changes made to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to include college sports. As a result, some Republican votes in favor of the SCORE Act were lost.

The NCAA and power conferences will continue lobbying to get the votes in order for the bill to pass. They reportedly targeted the Congressional Black Caucus this week, but a deal didn’t come to fruition. CBS Sports‘ Brandon Marcello reported that a vote likely won’t occur this month.

2
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

2 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Snarky
9 months ago

Once again Congress cannot do anything positive.

999
9 months ago

How does this affect Lebron’s legacy?

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »