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    Midterm Results Strip Youth Sports Legislation of Six Lead Sponsors Before 2027 Reintroduction

    Cameron KorabBy No Comments13 Mins Read

    Key Takeaways

    • Six lead or co-lead sponsors of federal youth sports bills, five of them Republicans, will not return in January: Marshall, Lawler, Carey, Van Drew, Huizenga and Veasey.
    • Not one of the six youth sports bills tracked here advanced past introduction in the 119th Congress, so all expire on January 3, 2027.
    • Carey’s STRONG Kids Act proposed up to $5 million per HHS grant, funded by half of federal sports wagering excise tax revenue, per his office.
    • The PHIT Act keeps sponsor Mike Kelly, Senate lead John Thune and more than two dozen House cosponsors, the deepest bench of any bill on the list.

    Which Youth Sports Legislation Sponsors Lost in the 2026 Midterms?

    The November 3 midterms removed a large share of the Republican authors behind youth sports legislation in the 119th Congress, as Sportico’s Daniel Libit first reported on Thursday. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas and Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Mike Carey of Ohio and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey all lost their seats in an election that gave Democrats control of the House and Senate, a result the Associated Press called for the Senate late Tuesday night.

    The losses extend beyond the names in the Sportico report. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan, lead sponsor of the Youth Sports Facilities Act, lost his district to Democrat Sean McCann, 50.1% to 48.3% in the AP count reported by Michigan Advance. Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, Huizenga’s Democratic co-lead and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports, did not run for reelection after Texas redistricting moved his Fort Worth base out of his district, per Roll Call and the Fort Worth Report. Pennsylvania Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rob Bresnahan, both cosponsors of the facilities bill, also lost, according to NBC News results.

    Marshall’s defeat to Democrat Adam Hamilton, 50.9% to 46.1% in unofficial Kansas Secretary of State figures reported by the Great Bend Tribune, made Hamilton the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932. Lawler conceded to Cait Conley late on election night, per Spectrum News and ABC7 New York. Carey lost to Don Leonard, 51.6% to 45.6% in election night returns reported by the Scioto Valley Guardian, and Van Drew conceded to Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock, per The Hill and WHYY.

    The Presidential Fitness Test Act Loses Both Lead Sponsors

    Marshall and Van Drew introduced companion bills on December 10, 2025, titled the Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025, numbered S. 3412 and H.R. 6604, according to Congress.gov records. The bills would write into statute the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and formally reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test and award.

    The legislation followed Executive Order 14327, signed by President Donald Trump on July 31, 2025 and published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2025, which revived the council and the test and assigned the Department of Health and Human Services to run it. Marshall’s office described the bill as a way to give the order the force of law so a future administration could not reverse it.

    Neither bill moved out of committee. The House version was referred to Education and Workforce, the Senate version to the HELP Committee, per Congress.gov. With both lead sponsors gone and Republican cosponsors Katie Britt and John Boozman the only remaining Senate names, the test now rests on the executive order alone unless a new sponsor picks it up.

    Tax Credits for Sports Families Lose Their Republican Authors

    Lawler carried two tax measures aimed at families. The Home Run for Kids Act, H.R. 2637, introduced April 3, 2025, would create a nonrefundable credit of up to $200 for organized sports equipment for households earning up to $150,000, according to his office and Congress.gov. It was referred to Ways and Means and never advanced.

    In January 2026, Lawler signed on as a cosponsor of Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s PLAY Act, H.R. 6979. Per Gottheimer’s office, the bill would make up to $2,000 in youth physical activity expenses eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, raise the credit’s expense limits from $3,000 to $4,000 for one child and from $6,000 to $7,000 for two or more, and allow pre-tax payment of league fees and equipment. It was referred to three committees, per Congress.gov. Gottheimer won a sixth term by 62.4% to 34.7%, according to the New Jersey Globe, and will sit in the majority next year.

    The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act is the one tax bill on this list that kept its author. Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania won reelection 53.9% to 46.1% in unofficial results reported by exploreVenango. His bill, H.R. 2369, introduced March 26, 2025 with Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Fitzpatrick, would treat up to $1,000 in sports and fitness expenses as medical care, or $2,000 for joint filers, and open health savings accounts to youth league fees, per Kelly’s office. Congress.gov lists more than two dozen House cosponsors, and the Senate companion, S. 1144, is led by Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. Chris Murphy.

    STRONG Kids Act and Facilities Grants Now Depend on Democratic Co-Leads

    Carey, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced the STRONG Kids Act, H.R. 9839, on July 22, 2026 with Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán of California. According to Carey’s office, the bill would direct HHS to run a competitive grant program paying up to $5 million to national nonprofits or government entities and up to $2.5 million to regional or state groups, which would then issue subgrants of $10,000 to $50,000 to local providers. Funding would equal 50% of federal excise tax revenue on sports wagering, with no new tax.

    The FundPlay Foundation said it helped develop the bill, and its backers at introduction included the YMCA and the National Recreation and Park Association, whose CEO Kristine Stratton said park agencies reached more than 50 million young people in 2025, per Carey’s release. Barragán won reelection, according to the AP, and now becomes the bill’s only remaining lead.

    The Youth Sports Facilities Act, H.R. 2850, introduced April 10, 2025 by Huizenga and Veasey, would make youth sports facilities eligible for Economic Development Administration grants, per Huizenga’s office. Congress.gov lists 12 House cosponsors, including Fitzpatrick and Bresnahan. A Senate companion, S. 1419, is sponsored by Sens. Jon Ossoff and Todd Young. With both House leads departing, the Senate bill is the only version with a sponsor still in office.

    Six Bills, Zero Floor Votes, and a January 3 Expiration

    Every bill above sits at introduced status, and all pending legislation dies when the 119th Congress ends on January 3, 2027. Reintroduction in the 120th Congress would fall to the members who remain: Gottheimer on PLAY, Barragán on STRONG Kids, Ossoff on facilities, and Kelly and Thune on PHIT.

    Rep. Jake Ellzey of Texas, who relaunched the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports with Veasey in May 2025 according to Veasey’s office, won his race 140,014 votes to 128,394 in Texas Secretary of State results. Veasey’s departure leaves the caucus with one co-chair and an open Democratic seat in a Democratic House.

    One new measure is already waiting. The Let Kids Play Act, H.R. 8788, introduced May 13, 2026 by Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania with three Democratic cosponsors, would restrict private equity ownership in youth sports and create a Youth Sports Fund, per Congress.gov.

    “Expanding access to youth sports is an area of bipartisan agreement, and that won’t change in the next Congress,” Jared Cooper, executive director of the FundPlay Foundation, told Sportico by email.

    Of the six bills, the PHIT Act is the only one that enters January with a lead sponsor still seated in both chambers.

    YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

    About Youth Sports Business Report

    Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted media platform covering the business of youth sports worldwide. YSBR delivers youth sports news, market intelligence, and original analysis daily across facilities, sponsorships, private equity, NIL, sports technology, and league operations. With more than 50,000 followers, YSBR is the leading source of youth sports industry news for the investors, owners, operators, and brands shaping the future of youth sports.

    How big is the youth sports market?

    American families spend approximately $54 billion annually on kids’ sports and recreation, according to the YSBR and Kinetica Group Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, with organized sports alone representing a $40 billion-plus market. The average family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46 percent since 2019, per the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, and market research projects the global youth sports market will reach approximately $114 billion by 2032 (Business Research Insights).

    How many kids play youth sports in the United States?

    Approximately 27.3 million children ages 6 to 17, or about 54.6 percent, played organized sports in 2022-2023, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health as reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. High school sports participation reached a record 8.26 million athletes in 2024-25, per the NFHS.

    Who founded Youth Sports Business Report?

    Youth Sports Business Report was founded by Cameron Korab, a sports marketing veteran with more than a decade in the industry and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Korab also co-founded Vertical Sports, a sports marketing advisory serving brands across youth, college, and pro sports.

    What does YSBR cover?

    YSBR delivers original reporting and market intelligence on youth sports facilities, youth sports technology, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital deals, NIL policy, coaching development, equipment and apparel, tournaments and events, and community sports initiatives. Readers include industry executives, investors, facility owners and operators, league administrators, and youth sports parents.

    Youth Sports Business Report resources

    • Newsletter: Subscribe to Youth Sports HQ, the most-read newsletter on the business of youth sports, delivering curated youth sports industry news and analysis to thousands of industry leaders every week.
    • Research: Read the Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, an exclusive YSBR and Kinetica Group analysis of market size, parent spending, and marketplace opportunities.
    • Jobs: Browse the YSBR Youth Sports Job Board, the most comprehensive destination for careers in youth sports, with hundreds of active listings across facility management, league operations, coaching, sports technology, and marketing.
    • Services: Find vetted partners and solutions for your organization in the YSBR Services Hub, connecting youth sports operators, brands, and investors with verified providers across the industry.
    • About: Learn more about Youth Sports Business Report and our editorial standards.

    Follow Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR): LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | Substack

    Check out Jr. Sports Marketing on YouTube or Spotify

    Hosted by Cameron Korab, founder of Youth Sports Business Report, Jr. Sports Marketing features candid 1-on-1 conversations with the brands, athletes, leagues, and innovators building the future of youth sports. Each episode breaks down how the smartest brands are activating, building equity, and winning with youth sports families. If you’re an operator, founder, investor, or marketer trying to understand where this space is headed, this is your show.

    Youth Sports Marketing Questions, Answered

    Where can brands sponsor youth sports? Brands can sponsor youth sports through local leagues and clubs, tournaments and events, facilities and complexes, governing bodies, and national platform programs. Sponsoring a child’s own program is the most powerful entry point: 81 percent of parents say it captures their attention, outperforming TV, social media, and pro sports sponsorship, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study conducted by YouGov Sport.

    How much does youth sports sponsorship cost? Youth sports sponsorship costs range from a few thousand dollars for a local league or team sponsorship to six and seven figures for regional facility naming rights and national platform programs. The environment is welcoming at every level: 84 percent of parents hold net positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports, with negative sentiment under 5 percent, per YouGov Sport research. Most brands start with a pilot activation, measure engagement, then scale.

    What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? The data is striking: 80 percent of parents say they would choose the brand that sponsors their child’s youth sports program when comparing two similar products, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study by YouGov Sport. A 2026 EMARKETER and DICK’S Media survey found 84 percent of sports parents say that role influences their purchase decisions, and 60 percent spend more on game and practice days, driving loyalty across categories from dining to travel to automotive.

    Ready to build a youth sports strategy? Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level. Brands and youth sports organizations can reach the team at info@verticalsports.us.

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    YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

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