I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 275 
To establish a commission to identify and examine issues of national concern 
related to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics, to make recommenda-
tions for the resolution of the issues, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 12, 2015 
Mr. RUSH (for himself, Mr. BARTON, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, and Mr. DENT) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to identify and examine issues 
of national concern related to the conduct of intercolle-
giate athletics, to make recommendations for the resolu-
tion of the issues, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) properly conducted intercollegiate athletic 
programs contribute to the beneficial development of 
student athletes and the vibrancy of campus life at 
institutions of higher education; 
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(2) recent events pose grave threats to the fi-
nancial stability of athletic programs at institutions 
of higher education and create pressure on institu-
tions of higher education to consider eliminating 
non-revenue Olympic sports or increasing general 
fund, student fee, and donor subsidies to athletics at 
a time when such resources are needed for priority 
academic programs; 
(3) there are concerns about the health and 
safety needs of student athletes with regard to ade-
quacy of injury protections and other medical proto-
cols; 
(4) academic integrity at institutions of higher 
education is threatened by increased incidences of 
academic fraud involving student athletes, failure to 
provide adequate remedial programs for academi-
cally unprepared admitted athletes, and excessive 
athletics time demands; 
(5) student athletes faced with loss of financial 
aid and other benefits and National Collegiate Ath-
letic Association (NCAA) member institutions in 
danger of financial penalties, loss of media rights, 
and public embarrassment due to alleged rules viola-
tions are not being afforded adequate due process; 
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(6) the NCAA, member institutions of the 
NCAA, and college presidents have not adequately 
addressed these issues; and 
(7) reform is so complex and important to high-
er education that a blue ribbon commission of sport 
experts and members of Congress should be con-
vened to objectively study these issues and propose 
solutions. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
Presidential Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Commission shall review and ana-
lyze the following issues related to intercollegiate athletics: 
(1) The interaction of athletics and academics, 
including— 
(A) the extent to which existing athletic 
practices allow student athletes to succeed as 
both students and athletes; 
(B) how athletics affect the academic mis-
sion, academic integrity, and credit worthiness 
of institutions of higher education; 
(C) graduation rates of student athletes; 
and 
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(D) standards of academic eligibility for 
participation in and terms of scholarships for 
student athletes. 
(2) The financing of intercollegiate athletics, in-
cluding— 
(A) sources of revenue, including student 
fees, media contracts, and licensing agreements; 
(B) expenditures of revenue, including 
compliance with title IX of the Education 
Amendments of 1972, coaching salaries, and fa-
cilities development; 
(C) the ability of institutions of higher 
education to finance intercollegiate athletics; 
(D) the financial transparency of inter-
collegiate athletics; 
(E) the criteria for receipt of financial dis-
bursements or rewards from athletic member-
ship associations; 
(F) rules related to earnings and benefits 
by student athletes, including the possibility of 
commercial compensation for the use of the 
names, images, and likenesses of student ath-
letes and whether a student athlete may retain 
a personal representative to negotiate on behalf 
of the student athlete; 
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(G) tax regulations related to revenue from 
intercollegiate athletics; and 
(H) Federal judicial decisions that affect 
compensation for student athletes or the right 
of student athletes to organize as a collective 
bargaining unit. 
(3) Recruitment and retention of student ath-
letes, including rules related to— 
(A) professional sports participation; 
(B) transfer of student athletes to other 
institutions; and 
(C) recruitment and representations made 
to potential student athletes. 
(4) Oversight and governance practices. 
(5) Health and safety protections for student 
athletes. 
(6) Due process and other protections related to 
the enforcement of rules and regulations related to 
student athletes. 
(7) Any other issues the Commission considers 
relevant to understanding the state of intercollegiate 
athletics. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall de-
velop recommendations regarding the issues identified in 
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subsection (a) based on the review and analysis of the 
issues under such subsection. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 17 members appointed as follows: 
(1) Five members appointed by the President, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Education and 
the Attorney General. 
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, including— 
(A) one Member of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(B) two individuals who are not Members 
of Congress. 
(3) Three members appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives, including— 
(A) one Member of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(B) two individuals who are not Members 
of Congress. 
(4) Three members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate, including— 
(A) one Member of the Senate; and 
(B) two individuals who are not Members 
of Congress. 
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(5) Three members appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate, including— 
(A) one Member of the Senate; and 
(B) two individuals who are not Members 
of Congress. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Appointments shall be made 
from individuals who are specially qualified to serve on 
the Commission by virtue of their education, training, or 
experience. 
(c) VACANCY.—Any vacancy on the Commission shall 
not affect the powers of the Commission, but shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
(d) CHAIR.—The Chair of the Commission shall be 
elected by the members. 
(e) REIMBURSEMENT; SERVICE WITHOUT PAY.— 
Members of the Commission shall serve without pay, ex-
cept members of the Commission shall be entitled to reim-
bursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary ex-
penses incurred by them in carrying out the functions of 
the Commission, in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently by the Federal Government are allowed ex-
penses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
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SEC. 5. STAFF. 
The Commission may appoint and fix the compensa-
tion of a staff director and such other personnel as may 
be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its 
functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the com-
petitive service, and without regard to the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that no rate of pay fixed under this paragraph may 
exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level 
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 
5, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. MEETINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chair or of a majority of its members. 
(b) FIRST MEETING.—The first such meeting shall 
occur not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 7. POWERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and 
act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evi-
dence as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(b) DELEGATION.—Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
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any action which the Commission is authorized to take by 
this section. 
(c) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the Commission, the head 
of such department or agency shall furnish such informa-
tion to the Commission. 
(d) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 
a reimbursable basis such administrative support services 
as the Commission may request that are necessary for the 
Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 
SEC. 8. REPORT. 
Not later than the date that is 1 year after the date 
of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission 
shall submit to the President and the Congress a written 
report of its findings and recommendations based on the 
review and analysis required by section 3. 
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