Capito Participates in Commerce Hearing to Review Landmark NIL Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, participated in a hearing entitled, "Protecting College Sports: Supporting Student Athletes, Restoring Fair Competition, and Saving the Game Fans Love."

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and supported by Senator Capito. This legislation would establish national standards for college athletics, creating necessary guardrails for a rapidly evolving landscape. This bill ensures fair competition, protects student athletes' rights, and provides a competitive balance among teams.

"I am proud to support The Protect College Sports Act to bring structure and stability back to college athletics. With Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rapidly evolving, we are in uncharted territory, and the livelihood of our athletic programs are at stake." Senator Capito said. "This legislation serves as an updated playbook to repair a fractured system-preventing the exploitation of student athletes, holding agents and coaches accountable, and putting education first."

Senator Capito began the hearing by introducing Dr. E Gordon Gee, President Emeritus of West Virginia University, as a witness-highlighting his decades of leadership in college education and athletics. Click here to view her remarks.

BACKGROUND:

The Protect College Sports Act will restore order and bring stability to school transfers, eligibility, recruiting practices, tampering, and real NIL rights for athletes. This bill preserves the integrity of college sports and ensures that athletic programs prioritize student athletes' education.

Specifically, the Protect College Sports Act:

• Mandates national rules for transfers (one free undergrad) and eligibility (5-in-5).

• Creates enforceable standards on recruiting, tampering, and NIL disclosures.

• Protects student athletes' rights to earn from their own name, image, and likeness.

• Enables enforcement of House settlement on revenue sharing and fake NIL deals.

• Sanctions agents that take advantage of student athletes, facilitate player poaching, and recruit tampering.

• Protects women's sports, Olympic sports, and scholarship opportunities.

• Preserves historic rivalries and prevents Super League Consolidation.

• Prioritizes education to set student athletes up for success.

• Prohibits football coaches from leaving mid-season to be hired by another program.

• Ensures safety standards, health care, and ombudsmen for student athletes.

• Allows option for school to pool media rights, making TV money work for college athletics.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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