What Happened?

College athletes from other countries could face a 20 percent limit on each varsity team under the proposed TEAM USA Act, changing how some scholarships and roster spots are allocated. [](#ngr-b90f7e4a-4f53-4dca-9d4a-b4b949d448d0)

The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a Sept. 16 hearing on whether international college athletes were taking scholarship and roster opportunities from American athletes. The hearing, titled “Who Gets The Scholarship? How The Global Shift In College Sports Affects Americans,” examined international recruiting and scholarship allocation in college sports.

Rep. Tim Walberg and Sen. Jon Husted introduced the TEAM USA Act two days before the hearing.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

NCAA Division I and Division II schools award more than $4 billion in athletic scholarships each year, but about two percent of high school athletes receive one. A 20 percent limit would apply separately to each varsity sports team, so its effect would depend on the sport and the number of international athletes already on that team.

International participation has grown from fewer than 9,000 college-athletics participants in 2001 to roughly 25,000 at the time of the hearing. International athletes account for more than 60 percent of Division I tennis players, 40 percent of college hockey participation and more than one-third of men’s college soccer.

Both Sides, Now

Support for the proposal is reflected in the question before the hearing, whether international recruiting is reducing scholarship and roster opportunities for American athletes.

The White House said its administration would protect student-athletes, athletic scholarships and athletic opportunities, while treating college sports as distinct from professional sports. The White House also directed revenue-sharing rules to preserve or expand scholarships and opportunities in women’s and Olympic sports.

Rep. Alma Adams said international students faced threats involving visa restrictions, visa termination and deportation, adding a different concern to the debate over college athletics.

What Happens Next?

Earlier congressional hearings on labor status, NCAA governance and athlete compensation did not directly produce a statute, binding NCAA rule or other final policy change.

At the Sept. 16 hearing, four witnesses addressed the issue, including Patrick McEnroe, Tommy Brown, Aaron Ament and Douglas DePeppe.

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This article was generated by AI pulling from data. Each article is edited by an editor for accuracy and clarity.

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