1. United States
2. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support the SCORE Act, legislation that would protect name, image, and likeness rights for Division I student-athletes while safeguarding women's and Olympic sports programs. This bill addresses critical gaps in the current system that threaten both athlete compensation and equitable athletic opportunities. Right now, student-athletes face a confusing patchwork of state-level NIL laws that create unfair recruiting advantages and competitive imbalances. The SCORE Act would establish a unified national standard, ensuring that all student-athletes can monetize their NIL rights under consistent, transparent rules regardless of which state their school is located in. This fairness is essential for Division I athletes who have earned the right to benefit from their talents and hard work. The legislation also enshrines the economic benefits from the House v. NCAA settlement, allowing schools to share athletics revenues directly with student-athletes. Beyond revenue sharing, it increases scholarship opportunities, extends medical coverage, provides mental health resources, and creates degree completion programs. These provisions recognize that student-athletes generate significant value for their institutions and deserve meaningful compensation and support. Critically, the SCORE Act maintains student-athletes' status as students rather than employees. This distinction is not merely technical but essential for protecting women's and Olympic sports. If student-athletes become employees, universities of all sizes would face financial constraints that could force them to cut non-revenue sports programs. Women's sports, which have seen tremendous growth in participation and opportunity over recent decades, would be particularly vulnerable to these cuts. I ask you to support the SCORE Act because it achieves both goals: protecting NIL rights for Division I athletes who deserve compensation while preserving the funding structure that makes women's and Olympic sports viable at universities nationwide. This legislation delivers a better future for all college sports without sacrificing the progress we have made toward gender equity in athletics.