The White House and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee each lent support Tuesday for a bill designed to regulate college sports that has been criticized by opponents as a giveaway to the NCAA and its most powerful schools.

The House is expected to vote on the SCORE Act later this week. The NCAA-backed legislation has broad support from Republicans but is widely disliked by Democrats, who would need to provide at least seven votes for it to pass in the Senate.

A statement from the White House said the administration supports the bill.

“Urgent federal action is necessary to provide the stability, fairness and balance that will protect student-athletes and preserve collegiate athletic opportunities,” it said.

A key critic is Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who has co-sponsored a comp

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