WASHINGTON _ U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala is not a fan of the NCAA, and she wants Congress to know how to make it better.
Shalala, a Miami Democrat, introduced legislation Thursday to create a two-year congressional commission with a sweeping mandate to examine the NCAA.
A former president at the University of Miami and the University of Wisconsin, Shalala has first-hand knowledge of the workings at major college athletics' highest levels.
Under the legislation, introduced with Republican Rep. Ross Spano of Florida, the Congressional Advisory Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics would examine the links between athletics and academics, the financing of college sports, recruitment policies as well as NCAA policies on oversight, health and safety and rules enforcement.
"We must address the extent to which higher education institutions, which are currently receiving over $130 billion in federal student support, are subsidizing athletic programs with little or no financial controls. It is time for Congress to intercede in order to protect college athletes and maintain the integrity of college sports once and for all," Shalala said in a statement.
The legislation calls on a 17-member commission to examine nearly every detail of college sports as we know it _ from admissions to post-college healthcare.
"She's interested in seeing how the NCAA can be better," spokesman Carlos Condarco said earlier this week.
The NCAA administers athletic championships and rule-setting for 1,100 colleges and universities across three divisions. The NCAA is a membership organization, but it often takes the heat for scandals that occur at its individual members or rules that legislate nearly everything about college athletics.
The organization is under fire for its rules that prohibit college athletes from profiting off their name, image and likeness. California passed a law earlier this year that would allow athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness beginning in 2023. It would open the door to, among other things, endorsement deals, commercials or signing autographs for money.
"College sports, as overseen by the NCAA, have undergone a massive transformation in recent years. As profits, compensation for coaches, and spending on luxurious athletic facilities have ballooned, the association has repeatedly failed to address systemic problems with respect to the health and well-being of student athletes," Shalala said in her statement.
As many as 30 states are considering or debating similar legislation, NCAA President Mark Emmert said this week in Washington, D.C. Federal lawmakers are looking for changes to the NCAA as well. Rep. Mark Walker, a North Carolina Republican, has introduced legislation dealing with the name, image and likeness issue.
Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Chris Murphy of Connecticut have created a working group to explore changes to the NCAA, including athlete compensation and healthcare. The senators met with Emmert this week.
"Recognize what I think a lot of Americans desire, which is to have more of the bounty coming out of college athletics accrue to the benefit of the kids who are showing up every day working hard and putting on a pretty good show for an increasing fan base all around the country," Murphy said.
College sports revenue now exceeds $14 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The highest-paid public employee in 41 states is a head coach of a college team, according to the legislation.
Earlier this year, Shalala told McClatchy that the NCAA has "absolutely no clout with me."
"Now the conferences have some clout with me," she said when asked about NCAA lobbying efforts. "If the head of the ACC or Jim Delany, who is about to step down from the Big Ten, picks up the phone and calls me, I'll listen to them. I have far more respect for their student-centered approach than I do for the NCAA."
The commission would include four people appointed by each of the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate and one person appointed by the Secretary of Education. The majority of members would not be members of Congress.
The commission would present a report that includes recommendations to Congress.
