Meehan Urges Inclusion of Anti-Hazing Provision in Higher Ed Legislation

Press Release

Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) joined Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) this week to urge House and Senate committees of jurisdiction to include their legislation, the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act, in higher education reauthorization bill expected to be considered by the committees in the coming weeks.

The legislation, H.R. 2926, requires incidents of hazing to be reported as part of a school's annual safety report. Meehan and Fudge wrote House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Ranking Member Bobby Scott.

Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray received a similar letter.

"Hazing is a serious and long-standing problem on college campuses and universities," Meehan and Fudge wrote. "Every year since 1961, at least one student has died as a result of hazing. This year alone, four students have died."

"As you know, the Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to disclose policies and statistics about crimes and certain incidents that happen on campus. Currently, the law does not address hazing. The REACH Act adds hazing to the Clery Act's reporting requirements," the lawmakers continued.

"We urge you to include H.R. 2926, the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act, in the upcoming Higher Education Act reauthorization," said Meehan and Fudge.

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