AUGUST 5, 2015
Reps. Salmon and Sessions introduce Safe Campus Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressmen Matt Salmon (AZ-05) and Pete Sessions (TX-32) recently introduced the Safe Campus Act to address a growing number of issues related to sexual assaults on college campuses.
“The Safe Campus Act is a much-needed piece of legislation to protect the fundamental due process rights of all parties in campus sexual assault cases. It protects the rights of student organizations and encourages institutions to offer access to sexual assault prevention programs, further benefitting the student population.” said Rep. Salmon “Congress must work to address this issue in a manner that is fair to all persons, and the involvement of our justice system in these proceedings is an excellent way to ensure that all parties’ rights are protected..”
“As a dedicated alumnus and parent, I believe it is imperative that we address a very important issue that is plaguing college campuses across the nation – sexual violence. I believe the process of handling these crimes is best understood by the victim and local law enforcement. The Safe Campus Act addresses this issue while providing universities with new tools to better safeguard their students.” said Rep. Sessions.
In recent years, institutions of higher education have come under intense public scrutiny over a number of complex problems associated with campus sexual violence. With Congress scheduled to consider updating the nation’s higher education laws, now is the time to change policies in a manner that respects the rights of victims, enhances the role of law enforcement, and promotes due process rights for all students and student organizations. The Safe Campus Act provides solutions for a number of issues related to campus sexual assault by outlining common sense standards of procedure to respect the due process rights of students, preserve campus safety, and ensure justice.
