09/28/2026 | Press release | Archived content
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting in favor of the Protect College Sports Act, which includes Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin's (D-WI) amendment to protect state laws related to student athlete abuse or hazing, campus safety, fraud, and that would otherwise protect the health and safety of student athletes. The amendment also includes language to protect personal injury lawsuits for head injuries. The amendment passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 96-1.
"As college sports continue to generate billions of dollars, we must protect the student athletes who made these record-breaking profits possible. I'm pleased the bill includes my amendment with Senator Baldwin to protect state laws related to student athlete abuse, hazing, and campus safety. Ensuring our student athletes are looked out for is of the highest priority.
"With ever-evolving NIL deals, we need real regulations to codify student athletes' rights to earn money while participating in college sports, and this bipartisan bill does just that."
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