Stop Campus Hazing Act

Mr. Speaker, I think this is truly one of the best representative policies for bipartisanship. When our children are dying and when our children are no longer safe in their environments, when they are simply going to school to get an education, I cannot think of a greater time for bipartisanship. I thank Congressmen Owens, Scott, and Duncan so very much for their willingness to save our children.

My son, Jordan, was killed in a shooting in 2012, so I know the pain of losing a child. I know the hole that it leaves in your soul and the questions it leaves you behind to dwell on; the feelings of guilt and yearning to do anything that you can to reverse the irreversible and to spend just a little bit more time with that person who was taken from you far too soon. You want to tell them all the things that you wish that you could have during their short time here on Earth, but we know that we are not that lucky.

The only thing that we can do now is harness that pain and try to do something positive with it. Harness it and try to make a lasting change that will prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy. We must try to create a legacy that truly speaks to the memory of that person that you loved so deeply.

This is the reason why I came to Congress, and the same reason why Jeanne Clery's parents took their power back and got the Clery Act signed into law after the tragic killing of their daughter on campus in 1986.

Jeanne Clery's parents made the same argument that I have heard time and time again from families all over this country who have lost loved ones to hazing at colleges and universities: If we had only known; if only we had been made aware sooner; if only we had been given a clearer picture of the situation that took our child away from us, maybe we could have done something.

That is what this bill is about. It is about transparency and accountability, empowering students and families so that they can make informed decisions about the schools that they attend or the clubs that they join.

It is about ensuring that college remains a place of new beginnings and hope for our children's future. It is simply about just saving lives.

I thank all of the families who have been working on this effort for so many years and who are watching from home but also watching here with us today in our House gallery.

I thank Hank Nuwer for his years of meticulous research on the history of hazing deaths in this country.

I thank Representatives Jeff Duncan and Glenn Thompson for their commitment to helping to see this bill through.

I thank Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Bobby Scott and their staff for coming together on this truly critical issue.

With efforts like these we are showing the American people that regardless of what they see on social media or whatever they see on TV, there are still people in Washington who are willing to put partisanship aside, engage in good faith together, and do the hard work that is so necessary to make positive change for the folks that are relying on us back home.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill. I am so encouraged by this measure to come together to say the least of these, to save our children. They deserve so much more from us, and in these moments today we are giving them what they deserve, a chance to survive, a chance to grow and to prosper, and a chance to be in America the way it is designed for them to be.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of names of students who died from hazing-related activities. This is a list of known hazing deaths from 1847 to 2023. These are the names that we honor today with this legislation.

Year, Name, Institution, State:

1847, Jonathan D. Torrence, Amherst College, Massachusetts;

1873, Mortimer N. Leggett, Cornell University, New York;

1884, Frederick Schwatka Strang, United States Naval Academy,

Maryland; 1892, Wilkins Ruskin, Yale University, Connecticut;

1899, Edward F. Berkeley, Cornell University, New York; 1900,

Hugh C. Moore, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Massachusetts; 1900, Oscar Booz, United States Military

Academy, New York; 1903, Martin Loew, University of Maryland,

Baltimore, Maryland; 1905, Stuart L. Pierson, Kenyon College,

Ohio; 1905, James R. Branch, Jr., United States Naval

Academy, Maryland; 1906, William Miller, Stanford University,

California; 1908, Emil S. (Ernie) Gram, Worcester Polytechnic

Institute, Massachusetts; 1912, Isaac William Rand,

University of North Carolina, North Carolina; 1913, Francis

W. Obenchain, Purdue University, Indiana; 1914, William R.

Bowlus, St. John's Military College, Maryland; 1915, Thurber

Sweet, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia; 1915, Eldridge

Scott Griffith, University of Kentucky, Kentucky.

1915-1916, Ludwig Von Gerichten, New Mexico Military

Institute, New Mexico; 1916, Paul N. Blue, Morningside

College, Iowa; 1916, William Lifson, University of

Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania; 1917, William Ashcom Bullock,

College of the City of New York, New York; 1919, Frank

McCullough, Colgate University, New York; 1921, Leighton

Mount, Northwestern University, Illinois; 1922, William

Duncan Saunders, Hamilton College, New York; 1923, Glenn

Kersh, University of Alabama, Alabama; 1923, Ainsworth Brown,

Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania; 1923, Louis

Aubere, Northwestern University, Illinois; 1925, Reginald

Stringfellow, University of Utah, Utah; 1928, Nolte McElroy,

University of Texas, Texas; 1929, Orsa George Steinmetz Jr.,

Indiana University, Indiana; 1931, Lloyd Neuman Aune, Stout

Institute, Wisconsin; 1934, Paul Kutch, Oregon State

University, Oregon; 1935, Richard Wendell Beitzel, Dickinson

College, Pennsylvania.

1936, Willie B. Barkley, Mississippi State University (then

Mississippi State College), Mississippi; 1940, Hubert L.

(Hugo) Spake Jr., University of Missouri, Missouri; 1945,

Robert G. Perry, St. Louis University, Missouri; 1948, James

(Jim) Irvin Peterson, Montana State University, Montana;

1949, Hale Thompson Gehl, Brown University, Rhode Island;

1950, Gerald Loren Foletta, University of California,

Berkeley, California; 1950, Dean J. Niswonger, Wittenberg

University, Ohio; 1951, Allen Kaplan, Northwestern State

College, Louisiana; 1951, Thomas Kleppner, University of

Miami, Florida; 1951, Fred E. Evens, University of Miami,

Florida; 1953, Calvin Dougherty, Milligan College, Tennessee;

1954, Peter Mertz, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania; 1956,

Thomas Clark, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Massachusetts; 1956, Karl B. Bailey, Rice University (then

Rice Institute), Texas; 1956, Cecil William Carrol, Rice

University (then Rice Institute), Texas; 1957, Max Caulk,

University of California, Santa Barbara, California; 1959,

Richard Terrell Swanson, University of Southern California,

California.

1960, Harry Lamphier, Jr., Northern Illinois University,

Illinois; 1960, William Gustafson, Northern Illinois

University, Illinois; 1960, William Kempfer, Northern

Illinois University, Illinois; 1960, John Pauls, Northern

Illinois University, Illinois; 1961, Joe Henry Derham, Jr.,

Clemson University, South Carolina; 1964, Jose Manual Costa,

University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island; 1965, Richard

Winder, Georgetown College, Kentucky; 1967, John E. Clifton,

Baylor University, Texas; 1968, Michael L. DiBacco,

Steubenville College, Ohio; 1968, Trent Ciarrochia,

Steubenville College, Ohio; 1968, William Entinger,

Steubenville College, Ohio; 1969, Scott Edward Graeler,

Muskingum University (then Muskingum College), Ohio; 1970,

Donna Bedinger, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois; 1971,

Wayne Kennedy, Tulane University, Louisiana; 1972, Fred

Phillip Bronne, Pierce College, California; 1972, Brian

Cursack, University of Maryland, Maryland; 1973, Mitchell

(Mitch) Fishkin, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania; 1974,

Thomas Morgan Elliott, Grove City College, Pennsylvania.

1974, John Curtin, Grove City College, Pennsylvania; 1974,

Rudolph Mion, Grove City College, Pennsylvania; 1974, Gary

Gilliland, Grove City College, Pennsylvania; 1974, William E.

Flowers, Monmouth College, New Jersey; 1974, Michael James

Bishop, Bluefield State College, West Virginia; 1975, Richard

A. Gowins, Northern Illinois University, Illinois; 1975,

David ``Lumpy'' Hoffmann, University of Wisconsin, Stevens

Point, Wisconsin; 1975, John Davies, University of Nevada,

Reno, Nevada; 1975, John Asher, Washington State University,

Washington; 1975, Theodore Ben, Cheyney University of

Pennsylvania (then-Cheyney State College), Pennsylvania;

1976, Samuel Mark Click, Texas Tech University, Texas; 1976,

Thomas Fitzgerald, St. John's University, New York; 1977,

Robert J. Bazile, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania;

1977, Randall Crustals, University of Missouri, Rolla,

Missouri; 1978, Stephen J. McNamara, Loras College, Iowa;

1978, Charles (Chuck) Stenzel, Alfred University, New York;

1978, Nathaniel Swinson, North Carolina Central University,

North Carolina.

1979, Bruce Wiseman, Louisiana State University, Louisiana;

1979, Richard C. Fuhs, Jr., Rutgers University, New Jersey;

1979, Norsha Lynn Delk, Virginia State College, Virginia;

1979, Robert Etheridge, Virginia State College, Virginia;

1980, Kingsley Davidson, University of North Dakota, North

Dakota; 1980, David Masciantonio, Clarkson University, New

York; 1980, Curtis Huntley, Mississippi State University,

Mississippi; 1980, Lex Dean Batson, University of Missouri,

Missouri; 1980, Joseph (Joey) Parrella, Ithaca College, New

York; 1980, Steve Call, University of Lowell, Massachusetts;

1980, L. Barry Ballou, University of South Carolina, South

Carolina; 1981, Rick Cerra, University of Wisconsin,

Superior, Wisconsin; 1982, Victor (Ricky) M. Siegel, Towson

State University, Maryland; 1982, Christopher Meigs,

University of Virginia, Virginia; 1982, Brian H. McKittrick,

University of Virginia, Virginia; 1984, Arnaldo Mercado

Perez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico;

1983, Vann Watts, Tennessee State University, Tennessee;

1984, Brad Bing, University of California, Davis, California;

1984, Bruce Dean Goodrich, Texas A & M University, Texas.

1984, Jay Lenaghan, American International College,

Massachusetts; 1984, Jeffrey Franklin Long, California State

University, Chico, California; 1985, Sherri Ann Clark,

University of Colorado, Colorado; 1985, Richard ``Rich''

Allyn Butler, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri;

1986, Harold Thomas, Lamar University, Texas; 1986, Mark

Seeberger, University of Texas, Texas; 1987, Harry (Skip)

Cline Jr., University of Mississippi, Mississippi; 1987, Todd

Alan Prince, University of Arkansas, Arkansas; 1987, David

Dunshee, Stanford University, California; 1988, James

Callahan, Rutgers University, New Jersey; 1988, Bryan

Higgins, State University of New York at Albany, New York;

1988, Matthew S. McCoy, University of Richmond, Virginia;

1988, Gregg Scott Phillips, University of Texas, Texas; 1988,

Sean T. Hickey, Rider University (then Rider College), New

Jersey; 1989, Joel Harris, Morehouse College, Georgia; 1989,

Steven Butterworth, Dickinson College, Pennsylvania; 1990,

Nick Haben, Western Illinois University, Illinois.

1991, Mike Nisbet, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri;

1991, John Moncello, University of California, Berkeley,

California; 1991, Rolland C. Pederson, Trinity University,

Texas; 1992, Jonathan S. McNamara, University of Vermont,

Vermont; 1992, Gregory Batipps, University of Virginia,

Virginia; 1992, J.B. (John B.) Joynt III, Frostburg State

University, Maryland; 1993, Chad Saucier, Auburn University,

Alabama; 1993, Leslie Ware, Alcorn State University,

Mississippi; 1994, Terry Linn, Bloomsburg University,

Pennsylvania; 1994, Michael Davis, Southeast Missouri State,

Missouri; 1994, Justin Chambers, Carnegie Mellon University,

Pennsylvania; 1995, Gabriel Higgins, University of Texas,

Texas; 1995, Brian Nicholas Cook, University of Virginia,

Virginia; 1995, Matthew Garofolo, University of Iowa, Iowa;

1996, Todd Martin Cruikshank, University of New Hampshire,

New Hampshire; 1997, Trey Walker, Texas A & M, Texas; 1997,

Brian T. Sanders, University of California Los Angeles,

California; 1997, Brian Pearce, University of California Los

Angeles, California; 1997, Steven Velazquez, North Carolina

State University, North Carolina.

1997, Benjamin Wynne, Louisiana State University,

Louisiana; 1997, Binaya Oja, Clarkson University and State

University of New York at Potsdam, New York; 1997, Scott

Krueger, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Massachusetts; 1998, John Laduca, University of Washington,

Washington; 1998, Courtney Cantor, University of Michigan,

Michigan; 1998, Dudley R. Moore IV, University of

Mississippi, Mississippi; 1998, Jack L. Ivey, Jr., University

of Texas, Texas; 1999, Kevin Lawless, Iona College, New York;

1999, Stephen Petz, Ferris State University, Michigan; 1999,

Donnie Lindsey Jr., University of Richmond, Virginia; 2000,

Adrian Heideman, Chico State University, California; 2000,

Terry Ryan Stirling, Old Dominion University, Virginia; 2000,

Ben Folsom Grantham III, University of Georgia, Georgia;

2001, Seth Korona, Indiana University, Indiana; 2001, Joseph

T. Green, Tennessee State University, Tennessee; 2001, Chad

Meredith, University of Miami, Florida; 2001, Ken

Christiansen, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota;

2001, Zachary Aaron Michael Mullins, Texas Tech University,

Texas;

2002, Clay Warren, Texas Tech University, Texas; 2002, Ben

Klein, Alfred University, New York; 2002, Brian Nicholas

Jimenez, San Diego State University, California; 2002,

Zachary Jacobs, San Diego State University, California; 2002,

Kenitha Saafir, California State University, Los Angeles,

California; 2002, Kristin High, California State University,

California; 2002, Albert (A.J.) Santos, University of Nevada,

Reno, Nevada; 2002, Daniel Reardon, University of Maryland,

Maryland; 2002, Gregory (Greg) Randall Davis, Occidental

College, California; 2003, Nicholas Grass, Yale University,

Connecticut; 2003, Kyle Burnat, Yale University, Connecticut;

2003, Andrew Dwyer, Yale University, Connecticut; 2003, Sean

Fenton, Yale University, Connecticut; 2003, Walter Dean

Jennings, Plattsburgh State (State University of New York),

New York; 2003, Jerry Hopkins, Rochester Institute of

Technology New York; 2003, Kelly Nester, Plymouth State

University, New Hampshire; 2003, Robert Schmalz, Bradley

University, Illinois; 2004, Lynn Gordon ``Gordie'' Bailey

Jr., University of Colorado, Colorado.

2004, Blake Hammontree, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma;

2004, Brent E. Johnson, Southern Illinois University at

Carbondale, Illinois; 2005, Matthew Carrington, Chico State

University, California; 2005, Kenny Luong, University of

California Irvine, California; 2005, Phanta ``Jack''

Phoummarath, University of Texas, Texas; 2006, Tyler Cross,

University of Texas, Texas; 2006, Zach Dunlevy, Limestone

College, South Carolina; 2007, Nikolas Gallegos, Stephen F.

Austin University, Texas; 2007, Gary Louis DeVercelly, Jr.,

Rider University, New Jersey; 2008, Brett Griffin, University

of Delaware, Delaware; 2008, Johnny D. Smith, Wabash College,

Indiana; 2008, Harrison Kowiak, Lenoir Rhyne University,

North Carolina; 2008, Michael Anthony, Smallwood Starks, Utah

State, Utah; 2008, Carson Leonard Starkey, Cal Poly,

California; 2009, Arman Partamian, SUNY Geneseo, New York;

2009, Donnie Wade Jr., Prairie View A & M, Texas; 2010,

Samuel Mason, Radford University, Virginia; 2010, Victoria

Carter, East Carolina University, North Carolina; 2010,

Briana Latrice Gather, East Carolina University, North

Carolina.

2011, George Desdunes, Cornell University, New York; 2011,

Robert Darnell Champion, Florida A & M, Florida; 2012,

William (Will) Torrance, Vincennes University, Indiana; 2012,

Philip Dhanens, Fresno State University, California; 2012,

Everett Glenn, Lafayette College, Pennsylvania; 2012, David

R. Bogenberger, Northern Illinois University, Illinois; 2012,

Preston Vorhauer, University of Idaho, Idaho; 2012, Marcus

Thomas, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida; 2012, Robert

Eugene Tipton, Jr., High Point University, North Carolina;

2012, David Shannon, University of North Carolina, North

Carolina; 2012, Jack Culolias, Arizona State University,

Arizona; 2013, Marvell Edmondson, Virginia State University,

Virginia; 2013, Jauwan Holmes, Virginia State University,

Virginia; 2013, Peter Tran, San Francisco State University,

California; 2013, Anthony Barksdale II, Boston University,

Massachusetts; 2013, Chun ``Mike'' Deng, Baruch College, New

York; 2014, Marquise Braham, Penn State, Altoona,

Pennsylvania; 2014, Armando Villa, California State

University, Northridge, California; 2014, Tucker W. Hipps,

Clemson University, South Carolina.

2014, Trevor Duffy, University of Albany, New York; 2014,

Nolan M. Burch, West Virginia University, West Virginia;

2014, Dalton Debrick, Texas Tech University, Texas; 2014,

Clayton Real, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska; 2015,

Praneet Karki, Louisiana State University, Louisiana; 2015,

Charlie Terreni, Jr., University of South Carolina, South

Carolina; 2016, Michael Anthony Walker, Ferrum College,

Virginia; 2016, Ryan Abele, University of Nevada, Nevada;

2016, Jordan Taylor, Texas State, Texas; 2016, Joe Dada,

Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania; 2017, Timothy J.

Piazza, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania; 2017,

Maxwell (Max) Gruver, Louisiana State University, Louisiana;

2017, Andrew Coffey, Florida State, Florida; 2017, Matthew

(Matt) Ellis, Texas State University, Texas; 2017, Alasdair

Russell, University of Southern California, California; 2017,

Harrison Carter Cole, Hampden Sydney College, Virginia; 2017,

Jordan Hankins, Northwestern University, Illinois; 2018,

Joseph Little, Texas A & M, Texas; 2018, Collin Wiant, Ohio

University, Ohio.

2018, Nicholas ``Nicky'' Cumberland, University of Texas,

Texas; 2018, Tyler Hilliard, University of California at

Riverside, California; 2018, Alexander Levi Rainey Beletsis,

University of California, Santa Cruz, California; 2019,

Marlon Jackson, Delaware State University, Delaware; 2019,

Noah Domingo, University of California, Irvine, California;

2019, Sebastian Serafin-Bazan, University of Buffalo, New

York; 2019, Bea Castro, Cal State Fullerton, California;

2019, Samuel Martinez, Washington State University,

Washington; 2019, Antonio (Anthony) Tsialas, Cornell

University, New York; 2019, Rahat Jalil, University of

Nebraska, Nebraska; 2019, Justin King, Bloomsburg University,

Pennsylvania; 2019, Dylan Hernandez, San Diego State,

California; 2020, Lauren Nicole Sawyer, Emory & Henry

College, Virginia; 2021, James Gilfedder, Lyon College,

Arkansas; 2021, Adam Jeffrey Oakes, Virginia Commonwealth

University (VCU), Virginia; 2021, Stone Justin Foltz, Bowling

Green State University, Ohio; 2021, Lofton Hazelwood,

University of Kentucky, Kentucky; 2021, Phat Nguyen, Michigan

State University, Michigan; 2023, Luke Tyler, Washington

State University, Washington.

Mr. Speaker, while we have a number of hazing victims' families who are joining us today here in the House gallery, we know that hazing has taken hundreds of lives and impacted countless families.

I would also like to thank Dr. Hank Nuwer for his years of research in compiling this list. Without this important work, hazing prevention work would not have come as far as it has.

Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk of the House, reported and found truly enrolled bills of the House of the following titles, which were thereupon signed by the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. McHenry, on Friday, December 20, 2024:

H.R. 663. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and

Family Violence Prevention Act.

H.R. 1607. An act to clarify jurisdiction with respect to

certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and

for other purposes.

H.R. 1727. An act to amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Development Act to extend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

National Historical Park Commission.

H.R. 2468. An act to require the Secretary of the Interior

to convey to the State of Utah certain Federal land under the

administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management

within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, and for other

purposes.

H.R. 3324. An act to extend the authority to collect

Shasta-Trinity Marina fees through fiscal year 2029.

H.R. 4094. An act to amend the Central Utah Project

Completion Act to authorize expenditures for the conduct of

certain water conservation measures in the Great Salt Lake

basin, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4385. An act to extend authorization of the

Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991.

H.R. 4467. An act to direct the Under Secretary for

Management of the Department of Homeland Security to assess

contracts for covered services performed by contractor

personnel along the United States land border with Mexico,

and for other purposes.

H.R. 5646. An act to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965

to require institutions of higher education to disclose

hazing incidents, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5770. An act to reauthorize certain United States

Geological Survey water data enhancement programs.

H.R. 6826. An act to designate the visitor and education

center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.

H.R. 6843. An act to expand the boundaries of the

Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to include Lafourche

Parish, Louisiana.

H.R. 7177. An act to amend title 28, United States Code, to

consolidate certain divisions in the Northern District of

Alabama.

H.R. 7213. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to

enhance and reauthorize activities and programs relating to

autism spectrum disorder, and for other purposes.

H.R. 7332. An Act to require the Secretary of the Interior

and the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain Federal

land to the State of Utah for inclusion in certain State

parks, and for other purposes.

H.R. 7524. An act to amend title 40, United States Code, to

require the submission of reports on certain information

technology services funds to Congress before expenditures may

be made, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8219. An act to require the Secretary of the Interior

to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility

of designating certain land as the Lahaina National Heritage

Area, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8413. An act to provide for the conveyance of certain

Federal land at Swanson Reservoir and Hugh Butler Reservoir

in the State of Nebraska, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8663. An act to require the Science and Technology

Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security to develop

greater capacity to detect and identify illicit substances in

very low concentrations.

H.R. 9566. An act to require governmentwide source code

sharing, and for other purposes.

Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk of the House, further reported and found truly an enrolled bill of the House of the following title, which was thereupon signed by the Speaker on Saturday, December 21, 2024:

H.R. 10545. An act making further continuing appropriations

for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other

purposes.

Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk of the House, further reported and found truly enrolled bills of the House of the following titles, which were thereupon signed by the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. McHENRY:

H.R. 82. An act to amend title II of the Social Security

Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall

elimination provisions.

H.R. 670. An act to direct the Secretary of Health and

Human Services to establish a website to promote awareness of

available resources for individuals with disabilities, and

for other purposes.

H.R. 1318. An act to authorize the location of a monument

on the National Mall to commemorate and honor the women's

suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to

the Constitution, and for other purposes.

H.R. 1555. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 2300 Sylvan Avenue in

Modesto, California, as the ``Corporal Michael D. Anderson

Jr. Post Office Building''.

H.R. 1823. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 207 East Fort Dade Avenue in

Brooksville, Florida, as the ``Specialist Justin Dean Coleman

Memorial Post Office Building''.

H.R. 2997. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior

to convey to Mesa County, Colorado, certain Federal land in

Colorado, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3354. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in

Purcellville, Virginia, as the ``Secretary of State Madeleine

Albright Post Office Building''.

H.R. 3391. An act to extend the Gabriella Miller Kids First

Pediatric Research Program at the National Institutes of

Health, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4136. An act to name the Department of Veterans

Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Plano, Texas, as

the ``U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic''.

H.R. 4955. An act to name the community-based outpatient

clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Monroeville,

Pennsylvania, as the ``Henry Parham VA Clinic''.

H.R. 4984. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior

to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the Robert F.

Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus to the District of Columbia

so that the District may use the Campus for purposes

including residential and commercial development, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 5103. An act to require the Director of the Office of

Management and Budget to approve or deny spend plans within a

certain amount of time, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5443. An act to establish a policy regarding appraisal

and valuation services for real property for a transaction

over which the Secretary of the Interior has jurisdiction,

and for other purposes.

H.R. 5867. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 109 Live Oaks Boulevard in

Casselberry, Florida, as the ``Colonel Joseph William

Kittinger II Post Office Building''.

H.R. 5887. An act to amend chapter 3 of title 5, United

States Code, to improve Government service delivery, and

build related capacity for the Federal Government, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 6062. An act to restore the ability of the people of

American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial

constitution based on majority rule in a democratic act of

self-determination, as authorized pursuant to an Act of

Congress delegating administration of Federal territorial law

in the territory to the President, and to the Secretary of

the Interior under Executive Order 10264, dated June 29,

1951, under which the Constitution of American Samoa was

approved and may be amended without requirement for further

congressional action, subject to the authority of Congress

under the Territorial Clause in article IV, section 3, clause

2 of the United States Constitution.

H.R. 6116. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 14280 South Military Trail

in Delray Beach, Florida, as the ``Benjamin Berell Ferencz

Post Office Building''.

H.R. 6162. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 379 North Oates Street in

Dothan, Alabama, as the ``LaBruce `Bruce' Tidwell Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 6188. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 420 Highway 17 North in

Surfside Beach, South Carolina, as the ``Nancy Yount Childs

Post Office Building''.

H.R. 6244. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 1535 East Los Ebanos

Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas, as the ``1st Lieutenant

Andres Zermeno Post Office Building''.

H.R. 6395. An act to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to

require the Secretary of the Interior to include the

Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultations

regarding designations of critical minerals, elements,

substances, and materials.

H.R. 6492. An act to improve recreation opportunities on,

and facilitate greater access to, Federal public land, and

for other purposes.

H.R. 6633. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 9355 113th Street in

Seminole, Florida, as the ``Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss

Memorial Post Office Building''.

H.R. 6750. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 501 Mercer Street Southwest

in Wilson, North Carolina, as the ``Milton F. Fitch, Sr. Post

Office Building''.

H.R. 6810. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 518 North Ridgewood Drive in

Sebring, Florida, as the ``U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas

B. McGuire Post Office Building''.

H.R. 6852. An act to designate Holcombe Rucker Park, in

Harlem, New York, as a National Commemorative Site, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 6983. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 15 South Valdosta Road in

Lakeland, Georgia, as the ``Nell Patten Roquemore Post

Office''.

H.R. 7158. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in

Santa Maria, California, as the ``Larry Lavagnino Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 7180. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland,

Arkansas, as the Kingsland `Johnny Cash' Post Office''.

H.R. 7365. To provide PreCheck to certain severely injured

or disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

H.R. 7385. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 29 Franklin Street in

Petersburg, Virginia, as the ``John Mercer Langston Post

Office Building''.

H.R. 74l7. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 135 West Spring Street in

Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Edwin L. Drake Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 7507. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 203 East 6th Street in

Lexington, Nebraska, as the ``William E. and Elsie L. Barrett

Post Office Building''.

H.R. 7508. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in

Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the ``Gladys P. Todd Post

Office''.

H.R. 7606. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio

Grande, New Jersey, as the ``Carlton H. Hand Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 7607. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19,

Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the

Township of Middle County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the

``George Henry White Post Office Building''.

H.R. 7893. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 306 Pickens Street in

Marion, Alabama, as the ``Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 7938. An act to amend the Klamath Basin Water Supply

Enhancement Act of 2000 to provide the Secretary of the

Interior with certain authorities with respect to projects

affecting the Klamath Basin watershed, and for other

purposes.

H.R. 8012. An act to establish the Jackie Robinson Ballpark

National Commemorative Site in the State of Florida, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 8057. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in

Westminster, California, as the ``Little Saigon Vietnam War

Veterans Memorial Post Office''.

H.R. 8641. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street in Brawley,

California, as the ``Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post

Office Building''.

H.R. 8666. An act to amend title 28, United States Code, to

authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in

Moab and Monticello.

H.R. 8667. An act to rename the community-based outpatient

clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac,

Michigan, as the ``Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic''.

H.R. 8717. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 20 West Main Street in

SantaQuin, Utah, as the ``SGT Bill Hooser Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 8841. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in

Roseau, Minnesota, as the ``Floyd B. Olson Post Office''.

H.R. 8868. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located 609 Portsmouth Avenue in

Greenland, New Hampshire, as the ``Chief Michael Maloney Post

Office Building''.

H.R. 8909. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway in

Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the ``Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei

Kauhaihao Post Office Building''.

H.R. 8919. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in

Peachtree City, Georgia, as the ``SFC Shawn McCloskey Post

Office''.

H.R. 8976. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in

Millstadt, Illinois, as the ``Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post

Office''.

H.R. 9076. An act to reauthorize child welfare programs

under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act and

strengthen the State and tribal child support enforcement

program under part D of such title, and for other purposes.

H.R. 9124. An act to name the Department of Veterans

Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn,

California, as the ``Louis A. Conter VA Clinic''.

H.R. 9285. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 39l3 Leland Avenue Northwest

in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the ``Captain Miguel Justin

Nava Post Office''.

H.R. 9322. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in

Akron, Ohio, as the ``Judge James R. Williams Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 9421. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 108 North Main Street in

Bucoda, Washington, as the ``Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office''.

H.R. 9487. An act to amend the Legislative Reorganization

Act of 1970 to authorize the Legislative Counsel of the House

of Representatives to designate more than one of the

attorneys of the Office of the Legislative Counsel as a

Deputy Legislative Counsel, and for other purposes.

H.R. 9544. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 340 South Loudon Avenue in

Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``United States Representative

Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building''.

H.R. 9549. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in

Hillsboro, Oregon, as the ``Elizabeth Furse Post Office

Building''.

H.R. 9580. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in

Raleigh, North Carolina, as the ``Millie Dunn Veasey Post

Office''.

H.R. 9592. An act to amend title 44, United States Code, to

modernize the Federal Register, and for other purposes.

H.R. 9600. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains,

Georgia, as the ``Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office''.

H.R. 9775. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 119 North Anderson Street in

Elwood, Indiana, as the ``Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz Post

Office Building''.

H.R. 10065. An act to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service located at 802 North Tancahua Street in

Corpus Christi, Texas, as the ``Captain Robert E. `Bob'

Batterson Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, extracurricular groups, athletic teams, and on-campus organizations are formed to serve common objectives while providing a safe and welcoming environment for students.

However, hazing is a dangerous and yet all-too-common practice that runs counter to the values of these organizations and threatens student health and safety.

Too many lives have already been lost because of hazing, including one in my State of Virginia. In 2021, Adam Oakes, a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, tragically died because of an alcohol-related hazing incident at a fraternity.

Regrettably, since 2000, there have been over 100 hazing-related deaths on college campuses nationally.

The fact is that nothing can lessen the agony of losing a child or a friend. However, I am hopeful that from these tragedies, Congress can step in and help students and families avoid future tragedies.

We are here today because of the tireless advocacy of families and friends who have lost loved ones from hazing. For years, these families have worked to advance State and Federal policies to end hazing and protect students. Some of those families have joined us in the gallery today.

The bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, H.R. 5646, would protect students from hazing on college campuses by improving reporting and prevention standards.

Specifically, it mandates that colleges and universities report hazing occurrences in their annual Clery reports, the incidents of crime reports, establishes campus-wide anti-hazing education programs and increases transparency about past hazing incidents so students can make informed decisions about joining campus organizations. Taken together, these policies create a roadmap for a cultural shift in hazing on our campuses that will save students' lives.

I thank the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan) for their leadership on this issue.

I support H.R. 5646 and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), the lead sponsor on the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters of support. One is from the Clery Center and the StopHazing organization, along with a list of endorsing organizations, including the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals, the American College Health Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated, which represents the Divine Nine, NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and another letter from the Anti-Hazing Coalition, which includes a number of hazing victims' families, the Hazing Prevention Network, the National Panhellenic Conference, and the North American Interfraternity Conference.

Clery Center,

Stop Hazing,

September 23, 2024.

Hon. Mike Johnson,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Hakeem Jeffries,

Democratic Leader, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries: On behalf of

StopHazing and Clery Center, we are writing to express our

strong support for H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and

to urge its swift passage. This bipartisan legislation offers

a critical opportunity to address the persistent issue of

hazing, a practice that continues to threaten the health,

safety, and well-being of students on college campuses across

the United States.

Hazing remains a deeply troubling problem in our higher

education system. More than half of college students involved

in co-curricular activities like athletic teams,

fraternities, sororities, and other campus groups experience

hazing, according to the National Study of Student Hazing.

Even more concerning is the fact that many incidents go

unreported, with students feeling pressured to remain silent

due to the social dynamics that reinforce these harmful

traditions. Tragically, since 2000, college hazing has led to

more than 100 student deaths; countless physical injuries,

and psychological damage from the abusive behavior. These

realities highlight the urgency of adopting meaningful

reforms to end these senseless practices.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act represents a crucial step toward

preventing hazing and protecting students from harm. This

legislation includes several critical provisions, including a

requirement for colleges and universities to improve

transparency by reporting hazing incidents in their Annual

Security Reports, commonly known as Clery Reports. This step

will make hazing incidents more visible and hold institutions

accountable for how they handle hazing cases. The bill also

mandates the implementation of campus-wide, research-based

hazing prevention programs designed to address root causes of

hazing, equip students with the tools to intervene as

bystanders, and ultimately prevent these dangerous behaviors

before they occur.

In addition to improving accountability and prevention, the

Stop Campus Hazing Act promotes transparency for students and

parents by requiring institutions to publicly disclose their

hazing prevention policies and any organizations that have

been found in violation of these policies. Such transparency

is essential for students and families to make informed

decisions when considering membership in campus

organizations. By ensuring all parties have access to this

vital information, we can empower students and their families

to make safer, more informed choices and create an

environment where hazing is no longer tolerated.

This legislation is the product of years of bipartisan

cooperation and expert input from national campus safety

advocates, fraternities and sororities, and families who have

tragically lost loved ones to hazing. It incorporates

elements from two previous bills, the Report and Educate

About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act and END ALL Hazing Act, and

has been thoroughly vetted by stakeholders and experts

including researchers who have documented the harmful and

far-reaching consequences of hazing. As such, the Stop Campus

Hazing Act has garnered support from a broad coalition of

organizations dedicated to campus safety and student well-

being.

We commend the House Committee on Education and the

Workforce for advancing this important bill. It is now

imperative the full House considers and passes H.R. 5646

without delay. Doing so will send a strong message that

student safety is a priority and that we are committed to

preventing the senseless tragedies caused by hazing.

A decades-long journey for many grieving families, H.R.

5646 provides an actionable framework to address hazing on

college campuses, and its passage will mark a significant

victory for student safety, educational integrity, consumer

protection, and prevention. We stand ready to support these

efforts and to work with you and your colleagues to ensure no

more students suffer from hazing.

On behalf of these groups, and the students and families

who have endured harm and tragedy from hazing, we urge

Members to vote in favor of H.R. 5646 to ensure this

lifesaving legislation moves forward.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D.,

Principal, StopHazing.

Jessica A. Mertz,

Executive Director,

Clery Center.

Organizations and Associations Endorsing the Stop Campus

Hazing Act:

Active Minds, AHA! Movement, American College Health

Association (ACHA), Anti-Hazing Coalition, Antonio Tsialas

Leadership Foundation, Association of Big Ten Students,

Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), Behavioral

Health Foundation, Clery Center, College Safety Coalition,

End Rape On Campus, God Bless the Child Productions, LLC,

Guardian Angel Community, Servcies-Sexual Assault Service

Center, Hazing Prevention Network, HazingInfo.org,

Holmes Murphy Fraternal Practice, iamstonefoltz FOUNDATION,

International Association of Campus Law Enforcement

Administrators (IACLEA), It's On Us, Love Like Adam

Foundation, MacKay & Associates, Mount Carmel College of

Nursing, Mt Salem Missionary Baptist Church, National

Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals

(NACCOP), NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher

Education, National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA),

Natonal Panhellenic Conference, National Pan-Hellenic

Council, Inc., National Women's Law Center, NIRSA: Leaders in

Collegiate Recreation,

NMB Foundation, North American Interfraternity Conference,

Protect Students Abroad, Robert D. Champion Drum Major for

Change Foundation, Inc., SAFE Campuses, LLC, Sexual Violence

Prevention Association (SVPA), SNAPPED: The Podcast, Soteria

Solutions, Steward Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A.,

Stockton University-Athletics and Recreation, StopHazing, The

Fierberg National Law Group, PLLC, Tucker W. Hipps Memorial

Foundation, Viisights Inc., VTV Family Outreach Foundation,

ZeroNow.

Mr. Speaker, I also include in the Record letters of support from the Clery Center on behalf of Connie Clery and the Clery family, and from Safe Campuses, LLC, to support changing the name of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Clery Center,

Fort Washington, PA, August 27, 2024.

Dear Members of Congress: On behalf of Clery Center, Connie

Clery, and the Clery family, I am writing to express our

strong support for renaming the ``Jeanne Clery Disclosure of

Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act'' to

the ``Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.'' We believe this

revised name more accurately reflects the broad scope and

intent of the legislation, and we urge Congress to support

this change.

Since its enactment, the Clery Act has served as a

cornerstone in the effort to improve campus safety across the

United States. As a consumer protection law, it provides the

transparency and accountability that families and students

deserve. The law's requirements, which include the disclosure

of campus crime statistics, the implementation of safety

policies, and the provision of timely warnings, have

significantly contributed to the safety and well-being of

students, faculty, and staff on college campuses.

Over the years, the Clery Act's role has expanded beyond

the mere disclosure of statistics and encompasses a

comprehensive approach to preventing and responding to crime

on campus. The term ``Campus Safety'' encapsulates this

broader mission and better communicates the law's purpose to

all stakeholders, including students, parents, campus

administrators, and law enforcement. We also believe the name

change will foster greater collaboration and encourage more

robust administrative support on campuses.

Most importantly, this change would continue to honor

Jeanne Clery's legacy in a meaningful way. The tragedy that

befell Jeanne inspired a movement that has undoubtedly saved

countless lives, and this updated title would reflect the

ongoing impact of her legacy on campus communities

nationwide.

We respectfully request that you consider supporting this

change. Thank you for your continued dedication to improving

campus safety and for your attention to this important

matter.

Sincerely,

Jessica A. Mertz,

Executive Director.

Mr. Speaker, the Stop Campus Hazing Act addresses hazing as a campus safety issue, and updating the name is better reflective of that focus.

Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to ensure that every student has access to a safe learning environment.

Today, with this legislation, we ensure that students and parents will better understand the culture and dangers of hazing on college campuses. As a result, I believe that H.R. 5646 is an important step forward to protect the health, safety, and future of our students.

Again, I thank Representatives McBath and Duncan for their leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as we debate H.R. 5646, Stop Campus Hazing Act, important legislation to address hazing on our college campuses, I include in the Record a letter of support for H.R. 5646 signed by parents who lost their children to hazing.

March 7, 2024.

Dear Member of Congress, We are writing to communicate the

importance of the Stop Campus Hazing Act (S. 2901, H.R.

5646), a bill that will save lives. When our children/spouse

started college we were filled with pride and excitement for

what the future would bring. Never did we imagine that

sending them to school meant we would never see them alive

again. Instead of celebrating their graduation, we will spend

the rest of our lives grieving their loss, because our loved

ones were killed or seriously injured as a result of hazing.

Hazing is often thought of as a harmless bonding

experience, but the reality is hazing threatens students'

health and safety due to its intimidating, harassing, and

often violent nature (StopHazing Research Lab, 2020). The

National Study of Student Hazing found that more than 55% of

college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations

experience hazing at colleges and universities throughout the

U.S. These acts can cause serious psychological, emotional,

physical injuries, and death. Over the past two decades, the

number of identified hazing tragedies and deaths has

escalated at an alarming rate.

Since 2015 Julie and Gary DeVercelly, whose son Gary

DeVercelly, Jr. died as the result of a fraternity hazing

ritual in 2007, have been tirelessly advocating for federal

legislation that would require institutions to take action to

prevent hazing incidents. We join them in urging you to

support the Stop Campus Hazing Act, a bill that will help

prevent other families from experiencing the loss we have

endured. The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires the inclusion of

hazing incidents as Clery Act crime statistics in Annual

Security Reports; a publicly available transparency report

that shares institutional hazing policies and identifies

organizations that have violated them; and a comprehensive

research-based educational programming on hazing for all

stakeholders.

Our families' tragedies were preventable, and the more time

that goes by before federal legislation is passed, the more

young people will be harmed and killed by hazing. The time is

now--we urge you to support this bill in honor of our loved

one and the countless others who have been harmed.

Please contact Matthew.Golden@Mail.

House.gov in Representative Lucy McBath's office or

Max_Hurst@Klobuchar.Senate.gov in Senator Klobuchar's office

to co-sponsor the Stop Campus Hazing Act. Visit the

StopHazing website to learn more or contact the Executive

Director of Clery Center, Jessica Mertz, with questions

(jmertz@ clerycenter.org).

Thank you,

Patricia Strong-Fargas, (parent of Kristin High--died 9/9/

2002 at California State University, Los Angeles); Karim

Saafir, (spouse of Kenitha Saafir--died 9/9/2002 at

California State University, Los Angeles); Mark Warren &

Freada Warren, (parents of Clay R. Warren--died 9/21/2002 at

Texas Tech University); Leslie & Michael Lanahan, (parents of

Lynn Gordon Bailey (``Gordie'')--died 9/17/2004 at University

of Colorado Boulder); Debbie & Greg Smith, (parents of

Matthew William Carrington--died 2/2/2005 at California State

University, Chico); Julie Greaves DeVercelly & Gary Louis

DeVercelly, Sr., (parents of Gary Louis DeVercelly, Jr.--died

3/30/2007 at Rider University); Julie & Tim Griffin, (parents

of Brett Joseph Griffin--died 11/8/2008 at University of

Delaware); Julia K. & H. Scott Starkey, (parents of Carson

Leonard Starkey--died 12/2/2008 at California Polytechnic

State University); Marie L. Andre, (parent of George B.

Desdunes--died 2/25/2011 at Cornell University); Robert G. &

Pamela E. Champion, (parents of Robert Darnell Champion--died

11/19/2011 at Florida A&M University); Dionne & Steven

Williams, (parents of Jauwan Mikal Holmes--died 4/20/2013 at

Virginia State University); Debbie & Danny Debrick, (parents

of Dalton Debrick--died 8/24/2014 at Texas Tech University);

Cindy & Gary Hipps, (parents of Tucker W. Hipps--died 9/22/

2014 at Clemson University); Theron J. & Kimberly A. Burch,

(parents of Nolan M. Burch--died 11/14/2014 at West Virginia

University); Sandy & Tom Coffey, (parents of Andrew Coffey--

died 11/3/2017 at Florida State University); Daphne Beletsis

and Yvonne Rainey, (parents of Alex Beletsis--died 6/20/2018

at U.C. Santa Cruz); Kathleen & Wade Wiant, (parents of

Collin Wiant--died 11/12/2018 at Ohio University); Flavia

Tomasello & John Tsialas, (parents of Antonio Tsialas--died

10/24/2019 at Cornell University); Jolayne Houtz & Hector

Martinez, (parents of Sam Martinez--died 11/12/2019 at

Washington State University); Eric & Linda Oaks, (parents of

Adam Jeffrey Oakes--died 2/27/2021 at Virginia Commonwealth

University); Shad & Cory Foltz, (parents of Stone Justin

Foltz--died 3/7/2021 at Bowling Green State University);

Tracey & Kirk Hazelwood, (parents of Thomas Lofton

Hazelwood--died 10/18/2021 at University of Kentucky); Thomas

& Mary Pat Santulli, (parents of Danny Santulli--critically

injured 10/19/2021 at University of Missouri).

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5646) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose hazing incidents, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 5646.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Stop Campus Hazing Act, H.R. 5646.

Given that it is National Hazing Prevention Week, I am pleased that we are considering this bipartisan bill. H.R. 5646 will help ensure that our campuses remain safe environments for all students.

Safety is a top priority for the Committee on Education and the Workforce's agenda and is boldly highlighted in H.R. 5646.

Hazing has been a persistent problem in America's postsecondary education. In fact, a national study on hazing found 55 percent of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experienced hazing. The same report found students' exposure to hazing prevention efforts is limited.

Since the year 2000, there have been more than 100 hazing-related deaths.

On September 21, 2023, Republican and Democratic lawmakers introduced the Stop Campus Hazing Act with the aim to combat hazing and protect students across the country. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed this bill on September 11, 2024.

If enacted, the bill would do the following.

First, the bill would add hazing incidents to the Clery Act ``Annual Security Report,'' enhancing the transparency of campus crime statistics.

Second, the bill would require universities to develop campus-wide educational programs aimed at preventing hazing. Additionally, it requires an institution to report publicly on their websites the findings of student organizations' hazing violations so students and parents can make informed choices on whether or not to join student organizations.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act is a result of tireless advocacy from affected families, campus safety professionals, and dedicated organizations. The legislation responds to the needs of these stakeholders while also balancing any additional burden on institutions.

This is why this legislation is so critical. It respects institutions' existing processes and provides clear guidance on reporting and transparency.

Hazing is a persistent issue that endangers young lives and undermines the very promise of an educational environment conducive to learning.

By strengthening policies around hazing prevention and reporting, we are reinforcing the message that student safety comes first. With that, let's pass the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, for far too long, the culture of hazing has permeated college campuses, impacting all types of student organizations. While some anti-hazing policies and laws are in place, more can be done to ensure all tools are appropriately used to deter this very dangerous culture.

That is where H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, comes in. It will improve reporting and prevention on college campuses. Simply put, it means ensuring students are safe.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's authors, Representative Lucy McBath and Representative Jeff Duncan.

Students and their parents have advocated for this legislation. We have some of the families with us here today, and I would like to thank the families of Timothy Piazza, Max Gruver, Marquise Braham, Harrison Kowiak, Dalton Debrick, Collin Wiant, Justin King, George Desdunes, Gary DeVercelly, Jr., Sam Martinez, Gordie Bailey, Robert Champion, and Antonio Tsialis.

I also thank the Clery Center, StopHazing Coalition, Anti-Hazing Coalition, National Panhellenic Conference, North American Interfraternity Conference, National Pan-Hellenic Council, SAFE Campuses, LLC, and dozens of other groups in support of H.R. 5646 that have recognized this terrible issue and worked tirelessly with Congress to draft this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today is an important day for student safety. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.