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Power Five conferences ask Congress to pass athlete compensation law

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Power Five conference commissioners are asking Congress to move forward with federal legislation regarding compensation for college athletes.

The commissioners of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference sent a letter dated May 23 to congressional leaders. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Friday. Stadium, the online sports network, first reported on the letter.

They encouraged federal lawmakers to not wait for the NCAA process to play out before passing a national law that would set parameters for college athletes to be compensated for use of their names, images and likenesses.

“I don’t think it’s indicative of anything other than our belief that the five of us bring substantial equity to college athletics and that our brands are strong,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Friday during a conference call with reporters.

The NCAA’s Board of Governors signed off in April on recommendations that would make it permissible for college athletes to make money for personal endorsements, appearances and sponsorship deals that now are against the rules. It acted after California passed a law clearing the way for athlete compensation that takes effect in 2023; other states are moving to to have laws take effect earlier than that, including Florida.

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