Washington, D.C. -  Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and U.S. Rep. Timothy Johnson today introduced legislation that limits the authority of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the interests of preserving the sovereignty of member institutions.

“The NCAA was established as a sports management association. The organization has since assumed the mantle of social arbiters. They need to go back to scheduling ballgames and leave the social engineering to others,” Rep. Johnson said.

“I want to emphasize that this is a bipartisan response to the NCAA having undermined the local decision-making authority of its member institutions, their alumni and fans. It is unfortunate that congressional intervention is necessary, but if we as legislators are to represent the will of the people, we would be shirking our responsibility to do otherwise.”

The Act, HR 5289, is called the Protection of University Governance Act of 2006. Original cosponsors, besides Reps. Hastert and Johnson, are Allen Boyd, D-Fla.; and Jerry Costello, D-Ill.

The bill limits the NCAA’s ability to impose sanctions on member institutions by reason of a team name, symbol, emblem or mascot. The bill would allow any college or university that is penalized for those reasons to sue the NCAA and seek a court order to stop the decision. The institution could also seek damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, for the revenue lost from not being allowed to host an athletic championship.

“Local economies across the country would be impacted if the NCAA’s recent decisions are allowed to prevail unchecked. As indicated by the sponsors who have signed on and who will continue to sign on, this is not a Republican grievance or a Democratic grievance,” Rep. Johnson said. “The NCAA’s presumed authority is a grievance against us all.”

The Act states: “Any attempt by an entity that regulates intercollegiate sports activities to impose its view of correct social policy on institutions of higher education participating in such activities is inimical to the traditions of higher education in America and is inconsistent with university governance and academic freedom. Attempts to regulate institutions in this manner detract from the diversity of America and the independence of thought and spirit that are the essence of higher education in this nation.”

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