We Must Rein In the Transfer Portal — Timeout with Tuberville

From the Office of Senator Tommy Tuberville

Coach Tuberville here…

March Madness is in full swing and college sports fanatics from the West Coast to the East Coast are tuning in to watch their teams battle it out. But once the season is over, the chaos of the modern NIL era returns. Players walk away from contracts just to chase a new shiny opportunity. Coaches are left begging their alumni to donate to their collectives so that they can “afford” to constantly re-recruit their roster. It’s a complete disaster. 

College athletics used to be about education, now it’s sadly all about money. I spent nearly 40 years coaching. I’m not a politician, but in my current role as Alabama’s senior senator, I’m often asked for my thoughts on NIL. Over the past few years, my team and I have met with dozens of coaches, administrators, athletes, and other stakeholders with one goal in mind: How can we protect student-athletes while preserving college sports? 

I’m proud to have introduced the Student-Athlete Act this week, and I believe it will solve many problems plaguing college athletics today. First, it will clarify eligibility rules to allow student-athletes to have five consecutive years to play five consecutive seasons. After that, you’re done. Second, student-athletes can transfer ONE time without penalty, after that, they must sit out a year if they transfer again. This is a free country. If you get a better opportunity somewhere else, you owe it to yourself to consider it. But if college athletics is truly about education, we must prioritize coursework and help set these kids up for success in life. There’s no question that transferring multiple times has a negative impact on a student’s education. 

The game clock is ticking, but we aren’t going to wait until the clock gets to zero. Now is the time to move the ball forward and get something done for the future of college athletics.

God Bless,

Tommy Tuberville

Tuberville Receives Update on Timeline for SPACECOM Moving to Huntsville

This week, Senator Tuberville spoke with U.S. Space Command Commander, General Stephen Whiting, and U.S. Strategic Command Commander, Admiral Richard Correll during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing. During the hearing, they spoke about the plans to move Space Command to Huntsville, Alabama, and the need to build more submarines for America’s nuclear capabilities. 

Watch Sen. Tuberville’s comments below or on YouTube or Rumble.

Tuberville Speaks at Alabama League of Municipalities Breakfast, Receives Hometown Hero Award

Senator Tuberville joined the Alabama League of Municipalities in their breakfast panel during the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference. During the panel, Sen. Tuberville touted Alabama’s many accomplishments over the last year and the importance of manufacturing and infrastructure in the state. At the conclusion of the discussion, Sen. Tuberville received the 2026 Hometown Hero Award for his efforts to strengthen Alabama communities and usher in growth for the state. 

Tuberville Attends Ribbon Cutting of New Submarine Manufacturing Facility in Muscle Shoals

Last week, Senator Tuberville attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of a new submarine manufacturing facility opening in Cherokee, Alabama. Hadrian’s 2.2 million square foot site will mass produce components for Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The Navy secured $900 million for the project through the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which will be combined with $1.5 billion in private capital. It is estimated that the new facility will bring more than 1,000 high-paying jobs to Alabama.

“It’s been less than a year since President Trump signed his Executive Order titled ‘Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,’” said Senator Tuberville. “And here we are today cutting the ribbon on this new manufacturing facility that will change shipbuilding forever. We are no longer limited by shipyards and coastline. We will build submarines, at least pieces of them, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Alabama is already a leader in space, defense, and cyber technology and now we’ll be leading the way in restoring America’s maritime dominance.”

Tuberville Promotes His New Bill to Rein in Transfer Portal During HELP Hearing

Senator Tuberville spoke at a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing about how Congress can reform college athletics to better protect students and ensure they have opportunities to succeed. During his remarks, Sen. Tuberville discussed the Student-Athlete Act, his new legislation to rein in the transfer portal and clarify eligibility rules for student-athletes.

Sen. Tuberville exchanged questions with two witnesses: Abby Lynch who is a former soccer player and track athlete at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Collis Temple Jr. who is a member of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors.

Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below or viewed on YouTube or Rumble.

Tuberville Takes Action to Ban Dangerous Abortion Drug

Senator Tuberville joined U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) in introducing the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act to withdraw approval of the dangerous mifepristone abortion drug and to empower women who were harmed by taking the drug to sue its manufacturers.

“It’s a shame that the federal government has allowed George Soros-funded drug manufacturers to get rich while women suffer from this dangerous abortion drug,” said Sen. Tuberville. “One in ten women who take this drug suffer serious health problems and it needs to be banned. These companies need to be put out of business and forced to pay the price for the damage they’ve caused. I’m proud to join this legislation with Sen. Hawley to ban mifepristone and empower the women who have been harmed to hold these pharmaceutical companies accountable.”

Full text of the bill can be found here.

Tuberville Warns About Rising Foreign Influence in American Universities

Senator Tuberville participated in a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee hearing on reducing foreign influence on American higher education. Sen. Tuberville has introduced several bills looking to stop influence from countries of concern, including China, in American universities, including the Safeguarding American Education from Foreign Control Act and the Student Visa Integrity Act.

Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be watched below, or on YouTube or Rumble.