College Athletes Barred From Employment Status in New GOP Bill

A new Republican bill to block student-athletes from being classified as employees comes as pending court cases and organizing efforts have sparked a debate in Congress over players’ employment rights.

The Protecting Student Athletes’ Economic Freedom Act, introduced Thursday by Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), would establish that college athletes may not be considered employees of an institution, conference, or association under any regulation as well as any federal or state law.

“As a former college athlete, I strongly believe America’s long tradition of college sports should not be ruined by reclassifying student athletes as employees, or moving to unionization,” Good ...