Adams, Trahan, Sherrill, Leger Fernández Applaud Education Department’s Title IX Guidance for College Athlete Pay

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) applauded the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights' newly released fact sheetclarifying colleges' obligation under Title IX to offer equal opportunity to college athletes with respect to publicity, support services, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) offerings, and direct payments.

"I commend Secretary Cardona and the Department of Education for reinforcing schools' responsibilities to ensure fairness and equity in athletics through Title IX," said Congresswoman Adams, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. "Equity in sports isn't just about fairness-it's about opportunity. This guidance ensures that women athletes receive the resources, support, and visibility they deserve. It reaffirms that Title IX will continue to deliver on its promise, allowing young women and girls to achieve their dreams as sports evolve"

"For over 50 years, Title IX has created the opportunity for countless girls and women to compete in the sports they love and continue their athletic careers in college. As the landscape of college sports evolves, one principle remains unchanged: schools have a clear obligation under Title IX to provide equal opportunities for women and men athletes alike. The Department of Education's guidance reinforces that commitment and ensures that fairness and equal opportunity remain at the heart of college athletics," said Congresswoman Trahan, the only former Division I woman athlete in Congress.

"We have an obligation to ensure that our colleges and universities across the country are living up to the promise of Title IX. That's why I teamed up with Reps. Trahan, Adams, and the Democratic Women's Caucus to urge the Department of Education to release clear guidance on the obligation of schools to provide equal opportunity for women athletes under the NCAA's new Name, Image, and Likeness rules. I applaud the Administration's decision to release this important guidance to support and uplift women's sports," said Congresswoman Sherrill.

"Women athletes deserve nothing less than full and fair access to the opportunities, resources, and recognition Title IX guarantees," said Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Leger Fernández. "Title IX has long stood as a pillar of fairness, opening doors for women and girls to thrive in athletics and beyond. That is why members of the DWC have tirelessly worked to make sure Title IX continues to deliver on its promise of equity and opportunity for women in athletics. The new guidance from the Department of Education is a critical step to make sure that as college sports evolve, school policies keep pace."

The fact sheet released yesterday came after Trahan, Sherrill, and Adams led a letterin November signed by nearly 30 members of the Democratic Women's Caucus to the U.S. Department of Education requesting clarity on how Title IX applies to college athlete pay. In the letter, the lawmakers asked how Title IX is being considered following preliminary approval of the settlement agreement in House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA, and Carter v. NCAA.

###

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development (HEWD) Subcommittee.