News

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of the SCORE Act , a bipartisan piece of legislation that will standardize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for student-athletes.  Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’ opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our markup of the SCORE Act. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside the full Committee chairs of Energy & Commerce, Education & Workforce, and Judiciary, and my other esteemed colleagues, especially Representatives Bynum, Figures, and Fry. “This Committee has a rich history of thoughtful and bipartisan engagement in college sports and Name, Image, and Likeness policy. We’ve worked across party lines, not just to legislate, but to understand what is truly at stake: the health, safety, and future of student-athletes. “Going back to the 114th Congress, we saw leadership from then-Chair Upton on concussion safety. In the 116th Congress, then-Chair Pallone and Ranking Member Walden jointly sought input on the emerging NIL landscape from stakeholders across the country – grounded in the idea that good policy begins with good listening. In the 118th Congress, then-Chair McMorris Rogers and I continued taking feedback from stakeholders with the intent of creating a national framework to protect our student athletes and create a sustainable future for college sports. “Many of these inputs went into our first NIL legislative hearing last year on my draft bill, the FAIR College Sports Act. Since then, we’ve continued that spirit of listening and engagement this Congress. “We hosted two subcommittee hearings, convened multiple bipartisan roundtables, and received input from hundreds of voices across the college sports ecosystem including from student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, compliance officials, conference commissioners, and legal experts. We’ve also worked in close coordination with other Committees and Members on both sides of the aisle to craft a bill that reflects broad consensus.  “The result of all this work is the SCORE Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan solution that upholds the integrity of college sports and strengthens protections for student-athletes who make it all possible.   “It provides common-sense guardrails around the transfer portal and agent disclosure, ensuring students are supported, not exploited, as they navigate life-changing decisions. I am honored to lead an important, thoughtful, and carefully crafted bill along with Chairman Guthrie.   “Thank you to my colleagues for their collaboration and commitment to student-athletes. I look forward to continuing our work as we move the SCORE Act forward.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a markup of the SCORE Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will standardize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for student-athletes.   “College athletics are central to American culture, and it's clear that a national framework is long overdue. In this week’s Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, we moved forward the new SCORE Act—legislation that brings the stability, clarity, and transparency stakeholders have long sought,” said Chairman Bilirakis . “I’m proud of our Subcommittee’s work and look forward to advancing a measure that empowers student-athletes while preserving the core educational mission of our colleges and universities.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 4312 , Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act, was reported to the full committee by a roll call vote of 12 yeas – 11 nays. Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “The SCORE Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that provides much needed guardrails. It ensures student athletes can benefit from their NIL while also protecting the broader ecosystem of collegiate athletics. Establishing school liability protections ensures compliance with fair rules and reduces the threat of frivolous lawsuits that strain university budgets and jeopardize athletic programs themselves. Its federal preemption provision ensures that we have one consistent national framework, putting an end to the patchwork of conflicting state laws and conflicting court rulings. If Congress fails to act, the future of college sports could be at risk.”   Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02): “This legislation will ensure that the integrity of college sports is maintained by leveling the playing field and providing nationwide consistency. This legislation guarantees that student-athletes receive essential benefits to support their education, health, and long-term success.”  Chairman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12): “I want to say it again: time is of the essence. It is long past time that we take action to ensure that we have sustainable future for college sports, especially for women’s sports and the Olympic sports. That creates predictability and certainty for all student-athletes. We must act now to protect and preserve the uniquely American institution of college sports we have all come to know and love.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a subcommittee markup of the SCORE Act , a bipartisan piece of legislation that will standardize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for student-athletes.  WHAT : Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Markup of the SCORE Act .  DATE: Tuesday, July 15, 2025  TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin with the Committee staff at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov .  Item to be considered:  H.R. 4312 , Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (Rep. Bilirakis) ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as part of a bipartisan joint committee process to stabilize the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) marketplace, leadership from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committee on Education and Workforce, and Committee on the Judiciary introduced the SCORE Act and issued the following statements. “NIL offers an endless array of opportunities for student-athletes to make the most of their college experience, but the lack of clear guardrails has left athletes and universities on unstable ground. The SCORE Act creates a national framework that supports student-athletes and recenters the educational mission of college athletics,” said Chairmen Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Tim Walberg (MI-05), and Jim Jordan (OH-04). “We are proud of this landmark legislation, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to strengthen this American institution.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade: “College athletics are a vital part of American culture, and it's clear—from both student-athletes and universities—that a national framework is long overdue. The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act delivers the stability, clarity, and transparency that stakeholders have been calling for,” said Congressman Bilirakis . “I’m proud of the work our Subcommittee has done on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing a measure that establishes clear guardrails—ones that empower student-athletes while upholding the core educational mission of our colleges and universities.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05): “As the mom of a D1 athlete, I've seen firsthand how important – and how long overdue – it was to allow our student athletes to earn their fair share,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “The NIL marketplace in college sports is currently operating like the Wild Wild West. This legislation takes important steps towards adding guardrails that guarantee that all student athletes can earn fair compensation, access a complete and quality education, and develop the skills they need to succeed in life after sports. I look forward to continuing to work on this bipartisan bill and delivering both strong protections and good opportunities to student athletes.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Shomari C. Figures (AL-02): “The current college sports environment has drastically changed in the NIL era and this bill provides a framework to where students can not only be compensated but also have access to resources like health care and financial literacy courses, to ensure they have a solid foundation for their lives after college and we can get back to just playing ball,”   said Congressman Figures .  “I look forward to continuing the bipartisan work to make this the strongest bill possible and protect student athletes, schools, and our athletic conferences.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congresswoman Lisa McClain (MI-09), Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference: “College athletes in Michigan and across the country deserve the chance to benefit from the value they help create,”   said   Chairwoman McClain . “Throughout my work on NIL reform, I have pushed for fairness, transparency, and preserving the student-athlete model. I’m proud the SCORE Act includes key principles I have championed, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to move this important legislation forward.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust: “Student athletes are the embodiment of the American Dream. But that dream is at a crossroads due to the uncertainty facing college athletics,”   said Congressman Fitzgerald .  “The SCORE Act provides the necessary framework to recapture the principles and spirit of collegiate sport, while ensuring our student athletes can be fairly compensated and adequately protected for years to come. I’m grateful to the University of Wisconsin and all who participated in our Judiciary Committee roundtable, which helped expand our understanding of the current landscape around antitrust liability for the NCAA and informed the development of this legislation.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “The SCORE Act is a significant step forward for name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college sports. A lack of clear rules and the inability to enforce them have turned the NIL landscape into the Wild West. This bill will finally bring order to the chaos—protecting universities and conferences from a flood of litigation, safeguarding Olympic and women’s sports teams, and creating a fair, national framework that allows student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness,” said Congressman Fry . “As a member of both the House Energy and Commerce and House Judiciary Committees, I’m proud of the work we have done in an effort to strike the right balance between supporting student-athletes ad preserving the integrity of college sports.” Background: Without clear federal standards, college athletic programs and athletes face a chaotic patchwork of state laws, legal uncertainty, and growing threats to traditional sports programs. The SCORE Act restores order by: · Reaffirming the student-first model; · Defending Olympic sports; · Shielding athletes from being exploited by bad actors; · Establishing clear regulatory authority and enforcement mechanisms; and · Improving transparency and accountability to better protect athletes and universities. The SCORE Act’s original co-sponsors: · Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) – Lead Republican · Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) – Democrat Co-Lead · Rep. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) – Democrat Co-Lead · Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02) · Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05) · Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04) · Rep. Lisa McClain (MI-09) · Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) · Rep. Russell Fry (SC-07) Click   HERE   to read the bill text. Click   HERE  to read the story. Click  HERE  to view the SCORE Act fact sheet. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget. “America needs a new prescription — a clear, bold vision for the future. We can no longer afford to simply throw more money at this problem and hope for change,” said Chairman Carter . “It is time to break from the old ways and embrace innovative, courageous ideas that will truly Make America Healthy Again.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09): “One important tool in promoting drug development is the FDA's Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Program, which has led to the approval of over 50 treatments for 39 different rare, pediatric diseases - 36 of which had no FDA approval treatments before the program began. I was very pleased to see the president's FDA budget allocate funding for this priority review voucher program, and I have bipartisan legislation that would fully reauthorize the program for years to come.” Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02): “I was just wondering if you can explain how HHS will be investing in rural America and specifically rural Iowa to ensure that Americans still have access to vital health care services.” Secretary Kennedy: “ We have a number of programs for expanding healthcare in rural areas. One of those that I'm most excited about are these innovations in telemedicine and AI nursing. That is going to deal with some of the treatment [and] the diagnosis issues. I've seen the systems in action, and they're extraordinary.” Congresswoman Kat Cammack: (FL-03): “Under the previous administration of Joe Biden, maternal health deserts expanded significantly, leaving over 2.5 million women without access to any sort of maternal health care. In fact, I believe it was 1 in 25 maternal health clinics [that] closed under the previous administration. And you've pointed out that there are more than 40 different maternal health programs scattered across HHS. From where I sit, that sounds like a lot of bureaucracy, and I want us to focus on patient outcomes and improving those, like you do.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, issued the following statement after President Trump delayed enforcement of the TikTok divestiture requirement: “We remain committed to seeing TikTok divested from the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated ByteDance. Our enemies will use any tool at their disposal to surveil and potentially manipulate the American people,”   said Chairmen Guthrie, Bilirakis, and Hudson.   “We remain committed to protecting the privacy and security of the American public and are hopeful the Administration will continue working to facilitate a deal that brings TikTok into compliance with the law soon.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with Reps. Palmer (AL-06), Carter (GA-01), Bilirakis (FL-12), and Obernolte (CA-23), penned a letter to the Executive Director of Covered California (CoveredCA), Jessica Altman, to request further information related to the potentially unauthorized transmission of sensitive personal health information involving Covered California’s website. Key Letter Excerpt: “According to public reports and agency statements, tracking technology was embedded on Covered California's website beginning in February 2024, as part of a broader digital advertising effort, and in direct contravention of the tracking platform’s user agreement, which prohibits the use of such tools on pages that collect sensitive health information. Although the tags were reportedly removed in April 2025, following external scrutiny and a vendor transition, the extended period of data exposure raises serious questions about the adequacy of safeguards that Covered California had in place. Forensic testing by investigative reporters identified the trackers in operation and confirmed that user-entered health information was being transmitted to third parties without consent. These circumstances warrant examination of Covered California’s actions under federal privacy standards.” “Ensuring the confidentiality of health information is a foundational obligation for entities operating within the health insurance ecosystem. Federal privacy protections, particularly the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), establish expectations for how covered organizations handle sensitive data. Recent reports and public filings raised questions about whether those expectations were met in this case, and whether existing oversight mechanisms are sufficient to detect and prevent improper disclosures.” Background: Forensic testing shows Covered California —the State of California’s official health insurance marketplace—has been sending sensitive user health data to third-party websites through several online data trackers. Prior to removal of the trackers, CoveredCA had more than 60 trackers active on its website; the average number of trackers on a government website is three. Some types of information sent to such websites include: Searches for doctors in network with specific plans/specializations Demographic information, including gender, ethnicity, and marital status Length of treatment a patent received by a provider Frequency of doctor visits If the user indicated they were blind, pregnant, a victim of domestic abuse, or used prescription medications. The State of California independently operates CoveredCA. As the state’s official ACA marketplace, CoveredCA falls under the purview of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The disclosure of information such as pregnancy or prescription drug use without proper consent—even for “marketing purposes”—may violate HIPAA. This Congress, the Committee has sent letters to 23andMe and DeepSeek over potential data privacy concerns: The Committee also held a hearing last Congress on the Change Healthcare hack, where personal health information was also jeopardized. CLICK HERE to read Fox News coverage of the letter. CLICK HERE to view the full letter. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a hearing titled Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety . “The American auto industry has been, and continues to be, one of the premier industries in our country, creating jobs and affordable transportation options for families. Still, nearly 40,000 Americans die annually in motor vehicle crashes,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “As Congress looks ahead to reauthorizing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we must evaluate how the agency can bolster vehicle safety, promote vehicle choice, and support innovation, ensuring the U.S. auto industry continues to be the gold standard.” Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing titled Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing on NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety DATE: Thursday, June 26, 2025 TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairmen. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin with the Committee staff at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Winning Off the Field: Legislative Proposal to Stabilize NIL and College Athletics. Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis' opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our legislative hearing on Name, Image, and Likeness in college athletics.  “I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. Your experience and insight are critical as we navigate what is arguably one of the most transformative moments in the history of college sports.  “In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in how college athletes engage with their sports, their schools, and their personal brands. The recent House v. NCAA settlement represents more than just a court decision — it marks a fundamental change in how college athletics will operate going forward. The timing couldn’t be more appropriate for legislative action. “That’s why I am leading the SCORE Act — the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act — a comprehensive, commonsense discussion draft that reflects months of dialogue with student-athletes, athletic directors, conference leaders, and the NCAA.  “This is not just another proposal; it's a targeted solution designed to bring predictability, fairness, and long-term balance to a system that has rapidly evolved without structure. “The SCORE Act is built around three core principles:  Clarity: by establishing a national standard that replaces the current patchwork of state laws Stability: by setting reasonable guardrails around the transfer portal and NIL deals to protect both athletes and programs, and Support: by ensuring benefits like scholarship protections and financial literacy programs are not optional but expected. “For too long, student-athletes have operated in a gray area, empowered in some ways but exposed in others. The current model lacks the transparency and consistency that both athletes and institutions need. The SCORE Act brings that balance. “And while today’s hearing is just the beginning of a broader tri-committee process, with the Committees on Judiciary and Education & Workforce, it’s an important step. We are not here to micromanage college sports. We are here to put forward a framework that strengthens it — that ensures athletes can succeed on the field without losing sight of their futures off of it. “I am proud of the work this subcommittee has done on this issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this across the finish line. And Go Gators!” ###