Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON– Tomorrow, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), and the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), will hold a joint hearing titled "Safeguarding Student-Athletes from NLRB Misclassification."
Chair Good expressed concern over the potential impact of misclassification, stating, "The weaponized NLRB consistently misinterprets the National Labor Relations Act, and this may now upend college sports." He further added, "Classifying athletic conferences as joint employers is absurd and opens institutions up to massive liabilities and costs, completely distorting the relationship between athletes and their universities. The NLRB’s actions will negatively impact countless student-athletes, faculty, and the entire student body at these institutions."
Chair Owens, drawing from his own experience as a former college athlete, emphasized the importance of maintaining the balance between academics and athletics. He remarked, "The current push to label student-athletes as employees undermines the primary responsibility of colleges and universities: to deliver a high-quality education." Owens highlighted the committee's dedication to student success, stating, "During this hearing, we'll explore the far-reaching implications of the NLRB’s interpretation of the National Labor Relations Act."
The joint Subcommittee hearing titled "Safeguarding Student-Athletes from NLRB Misclassification" will feature witnesses including Ms. Jill Bodensteiner, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s University, Mr. Tyler Sims, Shareholder at Littler Mendelson, Mr. Mark Gaston Pearce, Executive Director of the Workers’ Rights Institute at Georgetown Law, and Professor Matthew Mitten, Professor of Law and Executive Director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School.
The hearing is open to the press and will be live-streamed on the Committee’s YouTube page.
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