Exclusive / Murphy pushes for athlete unionization rights in college sports bill - Semafor

The price for Senate Republicans to finish the college sports bill quickly this week might be a roll call vote on allowing NCAA athletes to organize.

It could take all week for the Senate to process the bipartisan college sports bill. To speed things up, Democrats want amendment votes, most notably one that would allow college athletes to collectively bargain.

The amendment, from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., would replace a portion of the bill that is neutral on employment status with Murphy’s College Athlete Right to Organize Act.

The college sports bill is splitting Senate Democrats; many aren’t backing it because it is not seen as labor-friendly, and labor groups like the AFL-CIO oppose it.

Murphy also has amendments that would subject coaches to the same transfer portal restrictions as athletes and protect athletes who report physical or sexual misconduct.