Restoring Student-Athlete Rights

Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Mark Walker (R NC-6) introduced the Student-Athlete Equity Act to restore the rights of student-athletes. By conditioning the NCAA's tax exemption, the legislation hopes to give student-athletes power of their personal identity and likeness. So now, the NCAA must choose — do what's right or pay taxes.

When you become a student-athlete, you sign away your likeness to the NCAA. If you ever make any money off of your identity, you are stripped of your eligibility. Yet, the NCAA can rake in billions off of your image if they want.  This is absurd and unfair to thousands of athletes who struggle to afford books, food, or rent.

"Fans want the best for their teams' players,” Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition, said in support of the Student-Athlete Equity Act. "For student-athletes, that starts with giving them back rights over their own image and likeness. College athletics provide outstanding educational opportunities to students, but that should not come at the sacrifice of their personal identity. The Student-Athlete Equity Act will go a long way to improving the lives of our athletes and, therefore, their performance on and off the field. All fans can get behind that!"