The authors of a Senate college sports bill say it’s time to bring House Republicans and Democrats into discussions, as the clock is ticking to get the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk before the long August recess.
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the push to advance the bill through the panel included “three corners,” referring to senators, White House officials and college athletics stakeholders.
“And I think it’s probably time to have a ‘five-corner’ discussion, because the issues we’re seeing are from … both sides of the House,” Cantwell told reporters after a June 18 markup of the legislation. “I think that that’s probably what would make the most sense to get everybody’s viewpoint properly represented.”
But another week — dominated by chaos in both chambers — on a truncated election year floor calendar has already passed since the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the bill.
Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has been open to expanded talks with House members and has said he already has had some exchanges about the legislation that he crafted along with Cantwell and Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Chris Coons, D-Del.
