Senate Leader Says Vote on Protect College Sports Act Uncertain This Week

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he cannot promise a floor vote on the Protect College Sports Act before the Senate recess, noting unanswered procedural questions. > "I had several NIL conversations over the weekend, and that’s certainly, as you have all seen, probably trending in the right direction. Can we produce a big vote for it on the floor? Can we get it in the queue somehow? I mean, these are all, these are some unanswered questions," Thune said.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a co-sponsor of the legislation, asserted that the bill will be voted on and passed by the Senate this week. > "This bill is going to pass, and it’s going to pass this week out of the Senate," Cruz said. He also expressed hope that the measure would be signed into law later in the year after a bipartisan vote in the House.

The bill, which seeks to address name, image and likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes, has gained support from major conferences such as the Big Ten and the SEC, but its progress remains uncertain amid the approaching midterm elections and the Senate’s schedule.