Establishment of the Military Service Academy Panel on Athletics

(a) Establishment The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Department of Defense a panel to be known as the Military Service Academy Panel on Athletics (referred to in this section as the Panel). (b) Review The Panel shall conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the effects of the following on athletics at the Service Academies: (1) Rules of the NCAA regarding the compensation of a collegiate athlete for use of the name, image, and likeness of such athlete. (2) The transfer portal of the NCAA. (c) Report (1) Report required Not later than December 31, 2027, the Panel shall submit to the congressional defense committees a written report regarding the review under subsection (b). (2) Elements The report shall include the following elements: (A) The evaluation of the Panel of the effects described in subsection (b) on the recruitment, retention, and military readiness of cadets and midshipmen at the Service Academies who are collegiate athletes. (B) The legal and ethical implications identified by the Panel, including with regards to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and regulations of the Department, of receipt of compensation described in subsection (b) by a member of a covered Armed Force on active duty or a cadet or midshipman subject to a commissioned service obligation. (C) The effect of the transfer portal on the rosters and cohesion of athletic teams at the Service Academies, given the unique attrition challenges faced by the Service Academies. (3) Publication The Secretary shall publish the report on a publicly accessible website of the Department. The report— (A) shall be in unclassified form; and (B) may not contain any personally identifiable information of a cadet, midshipman, or member of a covered Armed Force. (d) Termination The Panel shall terminate upon submission of the report under subsection (c). (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term commissioned service obligation has the meaning given such term in section 7448, 8459, or 9448 of title 10, United States Code, as applicable. (2) The term covered Armed Force means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. (3) The term NCAA means the National Collegiate Athletic Association. (4) The term Service Academy has the meaning given such term in section 347 of title 10, United States Code.