Earlier this Congress, he reintroduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act (CARO), legislation to codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain for fair compensation and better working conditions...
Codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain for fair compensation and better working conditions.
Occurrences
Evidence
On March 26, 2026, Senator Chris Murphy served as Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing titled 'Don't Fumble Their Future: Positioning Student-Athletes for Success in School and Beyond.' During the hearing, Murphy criticized the current college sports industry for funneling the majority of profits to coaches and NCAA executives rather than student athletes. He advocated for reforms to ensure fair compensation and emphasized the need to codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain for better working conditions.
On December 6, 2023, Senators Chris Murphy, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren reintroduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act (CARO). This legislation affirms that college athletes are employees under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and are entitled to the right to organize and collectively bargain for fair compensation and better working conditions. The bill received endorsements from major professional players associations and labor unions.
On May 27, 2021, Senators Bernie Sanders and Chris Murphy introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act, aiming to allow college athletes to unionize. The bill sought to redefine college athletes receiving scholarships and other pay as employees of both public and private universities, enabling them to collectively bargain over wages, working conditions, and other rights.
On May 27, 2021, Senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders, along with House Democrats, introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act. This legislation aimed to grant college athletes the right to organize and collectively bargain with schools and conferences by amending the National Labor Relations Act to define college athletes who receive direct compensation as employees.
On July 24, 2025, Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Senator Chris Murphy reintroduced the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act. This legislation aims to establish an unrestricted federal right for college athletes to market their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The bill also addresses issues such as allowing international college athletes to market their NIL without losing their visa status and ensuring non-discrimination in the facilitation of NIL deals.
On May 27, 2021, Senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act. The bill aimed to recognize college athletes as employees, granting them the right to unionize and collectively bargain. It proposed amendments to the National Labor Relations Act to facilitate this recognition and collective bargaining process.
On May 31, 2021, it was reported that Senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act. The legislation aimed to allow college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain, addressing issues of fair compensation and working conditions within college sports.
On July 26, 2023, Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Senator Chris Murphy reintroduced legislation to establish an unrestricted federal right for college athletes to market their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The bill included provisions to allow international college athletes to market their NIL without losing their visa status and to ensure non-discrimination in the facilitation of NIL deals.
During a HELP Committee hearing on March 26, 2026, Senator Chris Murphy criticized the exploitation in college sports and advocated for reforms to ensure fair compensation and the right for athletes to unionize.
On December 6, 2023, Senators Murphy, Sanders, and Warren reintroduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act (CARO), affirming college athletes' rights to unionize and collectively bargain, with support from major labor organizations.
On March 11, 2026, during a Senate hearing, Senator Murphy expressed concern that student-athletes are not being paid what they are worth and suggested they consider collective bargaining.
AP reported that the new bipartisan college sports bill would regulate NIL payments, limit athletes to one unrestricted transfer, and restrict midseason coach changes. The article says the bill took a neutral stance on whether athletes are employees, and Murphy responded that it gave the NCAA antitrust protection and still left athletes underpaid.
AP reported that the SEC and Big Ten opposed the bipartisan college sports bill because it left critical issues unresolved and did not meaningfully preempt state NIL laws.
Assessments
Murphy materially pursued this promise by introducing the College Athlete Right to Organize Act in May 2021 and reintroducing it in December 2023, and he continued pressing for unionization and collective-bargaining rights in 2026 hearings. But the promised outcome was to codify those rights in federal law, and the evidence shows no enactment of Murphy's unionization proposal. As of late May and early June 2026, Congress was still debating broader college-sports legislation that did not codify athlete employee or collective-bargaining rights, and Murphy himself criticized it as insufficient. Because he made a serious legislative effort but did not secure the promised federal codification, this is best scored as never, with effort credit.
Senator Murphy made multiple serious legislative attempts to codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain, including introducing and reintroducing the College Athlete Right to Organize Act and publicly advocating for necessary reforms. However, there is no evidence that any such legislation passed or that the promised outcome became law during the current term. Therefore, despite notable legislative effort, the promise was not fulfilled.
Senator Chris Murphy repeatedly introduced and advocated for legislation (notably the College Athlete Right to Organize Act) to codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain. He also took public and committee stances supporting these rights. However, there is no evidence that any such legislation was enacted or that the promised right was codified into law during his term. Despite serious and continued legislative efforts, the promise was not delivered.