Friend, I salute the University of Connecticut women's basketball team – one of the winningest teams in the history of women's collegiate basketball – on reaching this year’s NCAA Final Four.
But not all of this year's tournament has been cause for celebration. The NCAA failed to provide women’s basketball teams with the same level of COVID-19 screenings, workout equipment, and facilities as the men’s teams – putting the NCAA’s sexist inequality on full display.
I'm demanding the NCAA take immediate action to fix the harmful disparities that it’s imposed on female athletes – and I’m counting on you to join me. Here’s one way you can help:
In this new session of Congress I will be re-introducing the College Athletes Bill of Rights, which would give all college athletes the tools they need to pursue their education, prioritize their health and safety, protect their economic rights, and, most critically, hold the NCAA accountable.
This bill needs grassroots support from people like you to help get it across the finish line. So I’m asking: Can I count on you to add your voice with mine now?
The present state of college athletics is undeniably exploitative. The literal blood, sweat, and tears of student athletes fuels a $14 billion industry – that all goes to the NCAA’s pockets. And if students get injured and cannot play, their health, education, and futures are not guaranteed. Raking in billions of dollars from these students’ talent and dedication without any share or security going to them is absolutely inexcusable.
Reforming college athletics is about basic justice: economic justice, healthcare justice, racial justice.
That's why I'm pushing as hard as I can in the Senate to hold the NCAA accountable for its unconscionable mistreatment of players and to secure fair compensation, education, and health policies by passing the College Athletes Bill of Rights. But I need to know that you're with me on this, so please:
Thanks so much for speaking out,
Dick
