U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation aimed at creating national standards for college athletics.

Capito and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., joined as cosponsors of the Protect College Sports Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; and Chris Coons, D-Del.

The bill would establish national standards for name, image and likeness rules, transfers, eligibility and enforcement in college sports.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee advanced the bill last month on a 19-9 vote, sending it to the full Senate for consideration.

“I am proud to cosponsor the Protect College Sports Act and support this effort to bring structure and stability back to college athletics. This legislation serves as an updated playbook to repair a fractured system by preventing the exploitation of student athletes, holding agents and coaches accountable, providing certainty through needed guardrails, and putting education first. It also includes an amendment I authored to preserve both women’s and Olympic sports’ visibility and media rights, helping these sports continue to grow and inspire the next generation of athletes. With the landscape of college athletics rapidly evolving, I believe we all agree that something needs to be done, and this bill puts those needed steps into action,” Capito said.

Capito serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the bill.

Supporters say the legislation is intended to bring consistency to the changing college sports landscape by setting federal guidelines for athlete compensation, transfer rules and enforcement. The bill also includes provisions related to student-athlete protections and the visibility of women’s and Olympic sports.