Kaine & Dingell Introduce Legislation to Prevent Campus Sexual Assault and Support Student Survivors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) introduced the Support for Universities and Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors (SUCCESS) Act and the Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act —bicameral legislation to prevent campus sexual assault and improve support for student survivors. The SUCCESS Act , which is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and John Fetterman (D-PA) would help improve academic outcomes for student survivors and ensure colleges and universities have the resources to support them. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act , or S.O.S. Campus Act , would require every college and university that receives federal funding to have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response. This legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Booker and Fetterman. “Every student deserves to live and learn in a healthy and safe environment. We must do everything we can to prevent sexual assault on college campuses and provide comprehensive support to survivors,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to introduce these bills to help ensure survivors can access medical care, counseling, and the academic support they need to heal and continue pursuing their educational and professional goals.” “Every student deserves to feel safe on their college campus and to know that if they experience sexual violence, they will be supported and taken seriously. The urgency to act has been put into sharp relief as we learn more about the horrific allegations coming out of Cornell,” said Dingell. “These bills will give colleges and universities more tools to prevent sexual violence, support survivors, and help ensure students can continue their education in a safe and supportive environment. No student should ever have to choose between their safety and their education.” “Colleges have a responsibility to help survivors of sexual violence cope with the trauma of an assault. Yet colleges expect survivors to seek out medical and mental health services on their own, stay on track academically, and feel safe in the same environment where the violence occurred,” said Booker. “It’s unfair to make survivors carry this weight. Every institution of higher education should provide the support survivors need.” “Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that their college campuses stand with them. No student should have to choose between their education and getting the support they need after experiencing sexual assault,” said Durbin. “The SUCCESS Act ensures that students have access to the resources and support networks they need to continue their education and achieve their goals.” “What kind of message does it send to survivors of sexual violence on our campuses if we hear their stories and don’t do anything to help prevent it from happening again? I can’t imagine that kind of unimaginable pain,” said Fetterman. “Today, my colleagues and I are doing something about it. These bills will not only help in the prevention of this violence, but it will help survivors with the resources they need and to continue pursuing their dreams.” Sexual violence can impact student survivors physically, psychologically, emotionally, and academically. Survivors may face difficulty learning and retaining information, lower grade point averages, and a greater risk of dropping out of school. College and university students deserve the ability to learn without fear of sexual violence, and higher education institutions have an obligation to do everything they can to provide a safe learning environment for their students. The legislation would help colleges and universities provide comprehensive guidance, resources, and support for survivors to make campuses a safer place to learn. The S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to: Emergency and follow-up medical care, Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement Medical forensic or evidentiary exams, Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and Information on their legal rights. The legislation would also require universities to consult with or partner with local rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations to ensure survivors can access the services they need. The SUCCESS Act would provide funding for universities and colleges to: Provide higher education re-entry assistance for student survivors of sexual assault and other forms of violence; Increase training for faculty and administrators on patient-centered care and recognizing signs of trauma; Provide patient-centered professional development training for academic advisors and counselors; Provide academic accommodations for students experiencing trauma, such as patient-centered training for tutors or the establishment of a confidential tutoring program specifically designed to assist student survivors of sexual assault and other violence; Increase mental health services for student survivors of sexual assault and other violence; and Create or enhance a fund for survivors of sexual assault and other violence to use for wrap-around services like housing, health care, and mental health treatment. The S.O.S. Campus Act and the SUCCESS Act are endorsed by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Full text of the S.O.S. Campus Act is available here . Full text of the SUCCESS Act is available here . ###