Why it matters: A House hearing on Sept. 16 examined whether international athletes are taking scholarship and roster opportunities from Americans.

The hearing was held by the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

The big picture: The hearing, titled “Who Gets The Scholarship? How The Global Shift In College Sports Affects Americans,” examined the internationalization of recruiting and scholarship allocation in college sports.

The hearing came two days after Rep. Tim Walberg and Sen. Jon Husted introduced the TEAM USA Act, which would limit international student-athlete participation to 20 percent on each varsity sports team.

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

The hearing record says international participation in college athletics grew from fewer than 9,000 participants in 2001 to roughly 25,000 at the time of the hearing. It also says more than 60 percent of Division I tennis players are international, while international participation is 40 percent in college hockey and over one-third in men’s college soccer.

Earlier congressional hearings examined labor status, NCAA governance and athlete compensation. The supplied records do not establish that those hearings directly produced a statute, binding NCAA rule or other final policy change.

What they’re saying: Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT-4), who chaired the hearing, said NCAA Division I and Division II schools award more than $4 billion in athletic scholarships annually. About 2 percent of high school athletes receive an athletic scholarship, according to the hearing record.

McEnroe, identified as an ESPN broadcaster and former Davis Cup captain, argued for a 20 percent cap on international athletes. The proposed cap was described as a way to protect scholarships and roster spots for American talent.

Douglas DePeppe, special counsel at Buchalter LLP, said international recruitment is widespread across championship-level college soccer. He testified that the pattern was not confined to one division, association or level of competition.

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12), the ranking member, said international students contribute perspectives, ideas and skills to U.S. higher education. She also said international students faced threats involving visa restrictions, visa termination and deportation.

Political stakes:

The hearing’s four witnesses included McEnroe, Tommy Brown of One Heartbeat Inc., Aaron Ament of the National Student Legal Defense Network and DePeppe. Ament was identified as the network’s president in the hearing record.

Yes, but:

The hearing record also states that 65 percent of U.S. Olympic teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics consisted of current, former or incoming NCAA student-athletes.

The bottom line:

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