ACC Engages in Extensive Lobbying for 'Protect College Sports Act' with Senators Cruz, Cantwell, and Schmitt
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has been actively lobbying for the 'Protect College Sports Act' (PCSA), a federal bill aimed at establishing national rules for college athletics. Records obtained through public-records requests from the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia, along with congressional lobbying disclosures, reveal the ACC's comprehensive campaign to influence the bill's language and secure its passage. ACC officials, including Commissioner Jim Phillips and Chief Legal Officer Pearlynn Houck, engaged in numerous meetings with senators, including Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell, and Eric Schmitt, who are co-sponsors of the bill. They also briefed Republican Senate staffers and coordinated with member schools to provide feedback and support for the legislation. The lobbying efforts included discussions on technical aspects of the bill, such as the inclusion of 'Associated Entity payments' into a cap and the preservation of gambling provisions. The ACC also acted as a clearingh...
