Conservative groups welcome changes to Ted Cruz’s college sports bill

Conservative advocates are thanking senators for revising the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) to address concerns that the bill could override state laws barring men from competing in women’s sports. 

The Senate Commerce Committee released the updated bill text Sept. 17, after the Senate voted 77-22 to advance the measure. The vote cleared its second procedural hurdle, setting up further Senate debate and a possible final vote next week.

The new language narrows the state-law preemption provision that prompted opposition from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), CatholicVote, and family policy organizations in 27 states. The groups had called on two of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., to fix what they described as vague and concerning language, as Zeale News previously reported.

ADF welcomed the revised language, which her organization had recommended, but said it remains neutral on the broader bill. 

“We extend our deepest thanks to Sen. Eric Schmitt and Sen. Ted Cruz for working over the past few weeks to make this critical fix to the bill,” President, CEO, and Chief Counsel Kristen Waggoner said in a Sept. 18 X post. “Both men have been great champions of fairness for women’s sports for many years, and their work to amend the PCSA helps preserve the Trump administration’s strong legacy on women’s sports.” 

“As we’ve said all along, Americans shouldn’t have to choose between fixing college sports and protecting women’s sports,” she added.

CatholicVote Director of Government Affairs Tom McClusky also welcomed the updated text in a statement to Zeale News. The organization remains neutral on the bill as a whole. 

“I'm grateful for the folks at Alliance Defending Freedom and in Sen. Cruz's office for protecting women’s sports from a lifetime of litigation,” he said.

In addition to narrowing the preemption clause, the revised bill retains a Title IX savings clause stating that neither the legislation nor its amendments may be construed to “override, modify, or amend” the applicability of Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.

“Fans, student athletes, coaches, and representatives on both sides of the aisle agree: college sports desperately needs stability,” Cruz said in the committee’s press release. “This updated bipartisan bill text incorporates feedback and ideas from our Republican and Democrat colleagues who have been meeting with student athletes and others about how to improve upon a sensible piece of legislation.”

The broader bill would establish national rules governing athlete compensation; name, image, and likeness agreements; transfers; eligibility; and health and safety protections. It would also give the National Collegiate Athletic Association and athletic conferences limited protection from antitrust lawsuits when they enforce certain rules authorized by the legislation.

The legislation must still pass the Senate and House before it can reach President Donald Trump’s desk.