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Washington, DC– Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today introduced H.R. 5580, the Save America’s Pastime Act. This bipartisan bill clarifies certain labor laws related to Minor League baseball players.

H.R. 5580 exempts Minor League players from certain federal wage and overtime requirements, putting them on equal footing with workers in a dozen other unique industries. Some professional sports leagues rely on unpaid alternatives to develop future players, but baseball offers a paid path to the Major Leagues. If the law is not clarified, the costs to support local teams would likely increase dramatically and usher in significant cuts across the league, threatening the primary pathway to the Majors and putting teams at risk. The impact on teams could also have a significant, negative economic impact on businesses and workers that rely on Minor League baseball. H.R. 5580 will prevent this uncertainty for communities, businesses and players, whose work environment includes extensive travel, practice, training, and conditioning above and beyond time actually worked on the field.

“Minor League Baseball is a beloved game in communities across America, including Bowling Green, Louisville, and Lexington, Kentucky. The game provides an affordable, family-friendly environment while bringing revenue to host cities and contributing to broader economic development,” said Congressman Guthrie. “Furthermore, the Minor Leagues offer the best opportunity for players to pursue their dream of one day playing in the Big Leagues, as several local players have done over the years. I look forward to working with Congresswoman Bustos to advance the bill and ensure that this great game and the communities that support it are protected from potentially devastating cuts.”

“Whether it was my dad working for the Major Leagues or my late brother Dan who was the head baseball coach at Southern Illinois University, baseball has always held a very special place in my heart,” said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. “Minor League teams are critically important, not just to the players and their parent teams, but to the communities they serve like Peoria and the Quad-Cities. This common sense proposal will close a loophole to ensure the long-term viability of Minor League teams in communities across our nation and I look forward to working with Congressman Guthrie to get it done.”

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