Introduction of the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act

Floor Speech

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act. This bill will close a gap in current law by requiring universities and colleges to spell out their policies on sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence generally. By requiring transparency out of these institutions, this bill will increase awareness for the victimization students face every day on our college campuses.

Sexual and dating violence is a serious problem on our college campuses. Over 13 percent of female undergrads have reported being stalked while at school and one out of every five women in college have reported being sexually assaulted. While these statistics are shocking, what's even more shocking is that only a fraction of these incidents are reported. When these instances of abuse go unreported, our nation's female undergraduate victims never get the support they need.

The Campus SaVE Act would close the gap in current law by requiring institutions of higher education to clearly explain their policies on dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence. Institutions will be required to include in their annual security reports statistics on domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking that were reported to campus police or local police agencies. It will also promote prevention and bystander responsibility by requiring these institutions to develop clear statements of policy regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking prevention programs. Campus SaVE ensures that victims get the help they need by requiring schools to provide clear statements regarding their procedures followed when a case of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking is reported and provide victims an explanation of their rights in writing.

Young people should be able to focus on finding their intellectual passion during these years, not dealing with the mental and physical exhaustion of abuse. The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act will help ensure our college campuses and universities are safer and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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