Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring Black History Month and uplifting the connection between the Black and Asian community.

As a Member of Congress who is part of both the Black and Asian community and the Civil Rights Task Force chair of CAPAC, I want to acknowledge the long history of solidarity between our two communities. For example, American abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke out against the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1869 in his Our Composite Nation speech. Our communities have shared struggles against systemic racism during the civil rights movement.

In the 1960s, for example, Japanese-American civil rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama, worked alongside Malcolm X during the civil rights movement.

During Black History Month, we are reminded that the civil rights and Asian-American movements have always gone hand in hand in seeking justice against systemic racism.

As we celebrate our progress this Black History Month and fight back against the Trump administration, we must remember that we cannot abandon our commitment to achieving racial equity for all people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Oscar Smith High School Football Team from Chesapeake, Virginia on becoming the Virginia High School League's Class 6 State Champions.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, the Oscar Smith Tigers won the championship game with a score of 21-20 against the James Madison Warhawks. Including their most recent win in 2021 against James Madison High School, Oscar Smith has now won five state championships since 2008. Led by Coach Chris Scott for the third season, the Tigers won this state title following an accomplished year. Oscar Smith ended the season undefeated, with a record of 15 wins and 0 losses.

Throughout the game, the Tigers and Warhawks fought tooth and nail to gain an advantage over the other team. The fourth quarter had the Oscar Smith Tigers down 14-7, with little time left in the game. Following two consecutive touchdowns by the Tigers, the Warhawks scored a touchdown and were trailing at 21-20. After opting to go for the 2- point conversion, James Madison's pass fell incomplete, crowning the Oscar Smith Tigers as the state champions. The determination from the young athletes of Oscar Smith High School is an inspiration to every athlete in our community and a testament to their hard work throughout the season.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate the Oscar Smith High School Football Team. I would also like to thank Coach Scott, the parents, and the entire Oscar Smith High School community for the support they have shown these athletes throughout an incredible season. I wish them the best in their future pursuits, and I wish their football program continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Phoebus High School Football Team from Hampton, Virginia on becoming the Virginia High School League's Class 4 State Champions.

The Phoebus Phantoms won the Class 4 state championship game against the Varina High School Blue Devils with a score of 23-6. This is the fourth year in a row Phoebus High School has claimed a state championship title following two consecutive victories in the Class 3 division. Led by Coach Jeremy Blunt, the championship makes the Phoebus Class of 2025 the second to win four state titles in a row, or ``4 peat,'' and its 49 consecutive wins are only three short of the 2012 class, which also won four state crowns from 2008 to 2011. Phoebus High School closed the season undefeated, with a record of 14 wins and 0 losses.

The Phantoms scored first with a field goal, but the Blue Devils scored the first touchdown, taking a 6-3 lead. The Phantoms had not trailed their opponents for much of the 2024 season, but sophomore Quarterback Maurikus Banks ended the Blue Devils' lead when he threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Romeir Smith for a 9-6 halftime lead. The Phantoms defense shut out Varina for the rest of the game. Offensive Lineman Markus Hopson recovered a fumble into the end zone and gave the Phantoms a 16-6 lead and then Banks added a rushing touchdown for the final score of 23-6.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate the Phoebus High School Football Team and thank Coach Blunt, the parents, and the entire Phoebus High School community for supporting these students throughout this remarkable season and now a second ``4 peat'' in school history with their state championship win. They have made all of us incredibly proud. I wish them the best in their future endeavors, and I wish the program continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Maury High School Football Team from Norfolk, Virginia, on claiming their second straight Class 5 State Championship, and their first back-to-back state crown in program history.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, the Maury Commodores won the championship game against the Briar Woods High School Falcons of Loudoun County by a score of 46-0. Led by Coach Dyrri McCain, the Commodores closed their season undefeated, recording 15 wins, including six shutouts, and maintained a 30-game winning streak extending back to last season.

Going into the championship, Maury faced a significant disadvantage after losing one of their star players in their previous game. Ari Watford, a defensive end committed to Clemson University, suffered a season ending injury in the semifinal game against Green Run High School on December 7. Without Watford, the team realized they would need to step up to win the state championship and did.

Throughout the championship game, the Commodores led on offense. Quarterback Au'Tori Newkirk scored on the first drive of the game with a 49-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lebron Bond. In the second quarter, Newkirk passed to receiver Jahvon Wiggins, who ran the ball into the end zone for another touchdown and widened the Commodores' lead to 14-0 at halftime. In the third quarter, they scored 32 points in less than seven minutes. Newkirk threw four touchdown passes to Elijah Moss, Tayshawn Branche, Damon McDaniel, and another to Bond. These young athletes made everyone in the community proud and demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate the Maury High School Football Team and thank Coach McCain, the parents, and the entire Maury High School community for supporting these students throughout this remarkable season. I wish them the best in their future endeavors, and I wish the program continued success.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3448, Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023.

This bill reauthorizes the bipartisan Never Again Education Act through 2030 to continue providing educators with resources and training to teach important lessons pertaining to the Holocaust.

While Congress should not dictate school curriculum, this legislation maintains the balance of promoting important education while allowing school districts to govern themselves.

The bill reauthorizes the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to support Holocaust education programs across the country that educators can, if they desire, access to better serve their classrooms.

Anti-Semitism is not a new problem, and we have seen such a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism that it must be addressed for the safety and dignity of all Americans. Congress must continue to take steps to ensure that Americans are educated on the dangers of anti- Semitism and the lessons of the Holocaust.

Passing this bill is critically important to combating anti-Semitism and ensuring schools maintain safe, productive spaces for all students.

As the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I have worked with the majority to ensure that the curricula introduced are appropriate for students according to their grade level and following the guidance from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning), a distinguished Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, in 2024, there are very few individuals who remember firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust. It is our duty to remember and to educate our children so that lessons learned will never be forgotten.

By reauthorizing the Holocaust education resources for teachers and students, the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 is a vital step in fighting back against anti-Semitism and acts of hate that remain far too pervasive in our society.

By prioritizing, we can invest in a younger generation of critical thinkers who can learn from history and use it to benefit the world around them with empathy and insight.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1147, the Jenna Quinn Law. The Jenna Quinn Law considers only one small part of the much broader Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, or CAPTA.

Through the reauthorization of CAPTA, Congress could take meaningful steps in preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect through providing States with the necessary resources to strengthen community- based child abuse prevention services. Despite CAPTA reauthorization passing in the House on a bipartisan basis in two previous Congresses, the bill did not become law, so we find ourselves here today considering the very narrowly drafted Jenna Quinn Law, which specifies that the HHS Secretary can award projects aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. It must be said that the Jenna Quinn Law regrettably does not authorize any new funding for such projects.

Reauthorizing CAPTA would have been a much better route and is a top priority, but another priority would be to address the communication holes in State child welfare systems. Specifically, the inability to communicate the threat of child endangerment across State lines can have devastating consequences.

In particular, one of my constituents, Heaven Watkins, fell victim to the lack of communication between State welfare agencies. In her case, the system allowed her to remain with an abusive parent who moved her from Minnesota to Virginia. Her past abuse was not communicated with Virginia officials, and the move resulted in her tragic death.

I am frustrated that this bill did not come to us under regular order. As a result, I am not able to offer the amendment that I offered at markup and the language that had been included in previous House- passed CAPTA reauthorization bills. My amendment would have required the creation of a nationwide interstate data exchange system to provide caseworkers with appropriate background and information on a family's interaction with the child welfare system in another State. If we had that State database in place, then it could have prevented further abuse or even death at the hands of abusive caregivers whose actions are not monitored across State lines, as was the case for Heaven Watkins and countless children.

While, ultimately, I will support the Jenna Quinn Law as far as it goes, the issue of child abuse prevention and treatment requires a more comprehensive approach. We can and should do more to reduce child abuse and neglect.

Despite the lack of a more comprehensive approach and no additional funding, this bill is still a step in the right direction. As a result, I will vote ``yes'' on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

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

Mr. Speaker, while this legislation would be a step to improve prevention, awareness, and reporting of child sexual abuse in schools, it woefully falls short of a comprehensive reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, or CAPTA.

CAPTA was last reauthorized over a decade ago in 2010, and a timely reauthorization is an appropriate solution to prevent child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place and provide better evidence- based treatments to address child maltreatment.

In both the 116th and the 117th Congresses, when I was chairman of the committee, the House passed a bipartisan CAPTA reauthorization bill called Stronger CAPTA. Regrettably, a CAPTA reauthorization has not yet become law despite a mutual understanding that Congress must do more to support children and families.

If the bipartisan Stronger CAPTA bill had been signed into law, it would have already provided States with necessary resources to expand locally driven prevention strategies, which strengthen families and invest in child protective services agencies.

Unfortunately, the bill we are considering today does not provide any additional funding to implement its proposed grant program on child sexual abuse prevention and awareness. In contrast, Stronger CAPTA would actually provide States with the resources to strengthen prevention programs.

Research shows that the best way to support families is to provide a targeted prevention to families of at-risk children when they are at risk of maltreatment, and primary prevention services need to be provided so that families can be served before they become vulnerable to factors associated with maltreatment.

Additionally, Stronger CAPTA would have streamlined communications between child protective services agencies across the country so that critical information is not lost across State lines. Such a system would likely have saved the life of Heaven Watkins, the 11-year-old who I mentioned before, who tragically died because local child protective services had no way of knowing that her parents had a history of child abuse in another State.

If the reforms in Stronger CAPTA had been in place, Heaven's death would likely have been prevented. By investing in prevention strategies and improving the collection and sharing of vital information, we can keep children like Heaven from slipping through the cracks.

There is no doubt that Congress has a vital role in helping States protect children from immediate injury and lifelong emotional trauma associated with child abuse and neglect.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner in the next Congress to reauthorize CAPTA. Meanwhile, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, which ensures that presidents of Tribal colleges and universities, TCUs, will have a direct voice on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. This bill is a necessary step to guarantee that TCUs, institutions that serve as educational hubs for Native-American communities, always have a voice in Federal funding discussions that directly impact their colleges.

As many of my colleagues know, the Federal Government holds a unique trust responsibility to the Native and Tribal communities, a responsibility that is not just a legal obligation, but a moral one. This trust is rooted in both the U.S. Constitution and centuries of commitments to Native communities.

Tribal colleges and universities pursue a unique mission. Not only do they educate Native communities, but they also preserve and advance Native-American culture and traditions. TCUs are central to the survival of Native languages, history, and cultural practices, all while providing access to higher education and advancing economic opportunities for Native students.

Having TCU representation will help to advise the NACIE as they fulfill one of their duties in advising the Education, Health, and Labor Secretaries in ways to strengthen TCUs and increase TCU participation in Federal agency programs.

While congressional Democrats and the Biden administration made critical investments to address the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Native-American communities, including through COVID relief funds totaling over $360 million, much work still remains.

Congress must make stronger, sustained investments in TCUs to address decades of systemic underfunding that these institutions have faced. This bill is about more than just adding a voice to the commission. It is about ensuring that the leaders of these vital institutions, who are on the front lines of education, have the opportunity to advocate for the unique needs of their students.

By including TCU presidents in NACIE, we ensure that Native leaders across the educational pipeline always have a guaranteed seat at the table.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, which will help honor our trust responsibility to Indian Tribes and support Native-American students and communities across the country.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on the legislation, I will emphasize the fact that this bill is more than just adding a voice on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education; it is about honoring our Nation's commitment to Native-American communities and ensuring that Tribal colleges and universities are properly represented to discuss the effective legislation and executive action on their future and the students they serve.

We must include TCUs in conversations on Federal funding and educational policy. This bill is a step toward ensuring Native-American students and the institutions they serve will have the resources and support they need to thrive.

I urge my colleagues to support the legislation as a demonstration of our commitment to empowering the Native-American communities through education.

Mr. Speaker, before I yield back, I will comment on the fact that this will be the last bill brought by Dr. Foxx in her capacity as chair of the committee.

I just point out that when we became chair and ranking member--we switched back and forth--we agreed that we would try to be the most dignified committee on Capitol Hill.

Regrettably, that is a mighty low bar around here, but I think we did as she has indicated. I think we demonstrated how you can disagree without being disagreeable. There were a lot of things we didn't agree on, but there were a lot of things we did. There was a lot of job training legislation that we were able to agree on, retirement savings, child abuse and prevention that we just considered, several healthcare bills, surprise billing, and things like that that took a lot of work.

We showed that it is possible to enact meaningful legislation on a bipartisan basis when you are willing to work together in a constructive way.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Dr. Foxx on her chairmanship and understand that there may be other leadership positions in her future, but I thank her for being able to conduct the committee as we were able to do it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for yielding. This is not about me. This is about you, your legislative legacy. You have done a great job here as a legislator, and you will leave a great legacy.

There are two parts of that legacy that I wanted to emphasize. They have been mentioned already tonight, but the first is the advocacy that you had to create the poverty task force. We raised a lot of money to try to get elected, and poverty is rarely mentioned as an issue. You not only created the task force, but you have also used that task force to create targeted, effective ways to actually address the issue of poverty.

The other is the issue of global AIDS, the global AIDS crisis. Your work with the Bush administration has been phenomenal. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, AIDS anywhere is a threat of AIDS everywhere, and if we don't address it everywhere, it threatens the rest of the world.

Your work convinced the George W. Bush administration to actually allocate the order of magnitude of resources needed. There were discussions of a little here and a little there, but you kept on them until they actually put in the kind of money that was necessary. It is not an exaggeration to say that tens of millions of people are alive today because of your work.

So, I thank you, Barbara Lee, for all of your work, especially the work for those who would not have a voice without you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for organizing this Special Order hour and giving us an opportunity to say some nice things about our good friend Jennifer Wexton. She is retiring after many years of dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and our Nation.

Since joining the House in 2019, Jennifer has been a relentless advocate for her constituents and a champion for equality, justice, and fairness.

Before serving in Congress, she was a leader in the Virginia State Senate where she led gun safety initiatives, expanded access to healthcare, and supported public education. Her legal background as both a prosecutor and an advocate for survivors of domestic violence still provides an important perspective to her service.

During her time here in Congress, she has fought for working families, reproductive rights, and transportation improvements. She has worked to expand broadband access, protect voting rights, and advance climate initiatives. During a time of bitter partisanship, Jennifer has also focused on bipartisan cooperation in working across the aisle to bring people together.

Beyond her legislative accomplishments, her courage and resilience in facing her personal health challenges while continuing to serve her constituents exemplifies her strength, character, and grace. She is an inspiration to everyone who serves in this Chamber and many others across the country.

She has also placed a much-needed spotlight on the need for Congress to invest more resources in combating Parkinson's and other related neurodegenerative diseases.

As the dean of the delegation, I know as the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans) has just said, I know we will all miss her here in Congress, and I join a chorus of voices thanking her for her service, determination, and dedication to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to our Nation. Thank you, Jennifer, for your dedication.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on H.R. 5349, the so-called Crucial Communist Teaching Act.

Let me start by acknowledging that there is value in educating our students about the dangers of totalitarianism and the atrocities committed under communist regimes, but the truth is we are debating a bill that skirts around key historical lessons and only risks further politicizing education.

Rather than bringing forward substantive legislation to address challenges that our children face in the classroom, Republicans want us to focus on this narrowly tailored bill that leaves out important issues that we should be discussing about communism.

We should be taking action to address the actual challenges that our children are facing, like legislation to increase investments in early childhood education, closing achievement gaps in our schools, tackling the mental health crisis among our youth, increasing graduation rates, and making college more affordable.

These are the challenges that people are actually facing, but this bill--in fact, this entire session--has been silent on those issues.

Furthermore, the bill fails to provide a complete and comprehensive approach to teaching students about the full history of communism. If we truly want to educate students about the dangers of extremism, we should be teaching them about all forms, not just communism, but about fascism and other ideologies that have sought to strip people of their rights and freedoms.

Even with communism, the bill neglects to mention the long history of using the label ``communism'' to inflame, scare, and pit Americans against each other. The bill remains silent when it comes to specifics, such as the discussion about the history of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Many fear that this approach will not only oversimplify this complex issue but also distort our students' understanding of history.

What is more troubling is that while we are debating this bill, Republicans are ignoring the actual efforts to invest in education and ensure that all children have the opportunities to succeed. We should be passing legislation that prioritizes their future, not creating distractions on divisive partisan messaging.

I urge my colleagues to come together to support legislation that would truly make a difference in the lives of American students. This legislation only directs an organization to create a limited curriculum on communism that public schools can adopt or not at the discretion of the local school system.

Let's focus instead on policies that improve academic achievement, close achievement gaps, increase graduation rates, and make higher education more affordable, issues that demand our immediate attention.

Mr. Speaker, I advise my colleague that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close when the gentleman is prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, let's be clear. If this wasn't about politics, then it would also have included fascism as well as communism. While the majority pushes this bill forward, it narrowly focuses on teaching some aspects of communism. We are ignoring the broader issues that affect students every day.

We should be working together to improve academic achievement, close learning gaps, improve graduation rates, make college more affordable, and other important education issues.

Instead of pursuing this distraction, let's focus on the real challenges that students face in the classroom today. Let's pass substantive legislation that supports our educators with the resources to provide a safe learning environment and empowers our students to succeed and prepares them for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to prioritize the actual needs of the students, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 837 which reaffirms the ties between the United States and the Philippines.

This resolution highlights the important partnership between our two nations and makes it clear that we will firmly stand by our allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

I also thank the gentleman from Guam, Mr. Moylan, for both leading this resolution and for co-chairing the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus with me.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet with the President of the Philippines, along with members of the Philippine House of Representatives, to discuss the important bilateral relationship between our two countries.

These conversations between Members of the United States Congress and elected officials in the Philippines solidify the bonds between our two nations and help identify areas of mutual interest and concern in the Indo-Pacific region. In these discussions we emphasized our shared vision of keeping peace and freedom, particularly in the South China Sea.

We are putting these goals into action. Earlier this year, Congress passed the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, recommending $500 million in foreign military financing go to the Philippines.

Following the passage of the amendment, Secretaries Blinken and Austin announced $500 million in military funding to help monetize the Philippines military and Coast Guard and boost collaboration.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to invoke the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine assets are attacked in the South China Sea and welcomes a swift implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

I was pleased to see the Biden administration expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to include four new military training sites. This will allow the United States and the Philippines to better address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen the ties between our countries. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8932, the FAFSA Deadline Act, which would set a firm October 1 deadline for the Department of Education to roll out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form starting in 2025. This bill will help millions of students and families access Federal financial aid in a timely manner.

We know that higher education is a pathway to opportunity, but the rising cost of college has made it out of reach for a lot of students. Federal student aid, including Pell grants and student loans, is essential to making college affordable.

That is why in 2020, I worked with Senator Lamar Alexander to pass the FAFSA Simplification Act, to make Federal student aid easier to access.

Regrettably, last year, technical problems with the newly redesigned FAFSA form delayed the students' access to this vital aid, and as a result, too many students could not submit their applications on time, and many

struggled to get the support they needed to resolve those issues.

When the committee first considered this bill in July, I voted in opposition because I had serious concerns that the implementation deadline may have forced the Department of Education to roll out an incomplete form on October 1 of this year. However, because we are now considering the bill after October 1, the deadline will apply next year, 2025, and that gives the Department ample time to make improvements and fix any lingering issues.

We now have helpful information from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office that provided specific recommendations in how the Department can continue to improve the rollout and implementation of

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Lee Carter).

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

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that this year's FAFSA process was a debacle. However, we are missing part of the story if we don't at least mention the work the Department has already done to get FAFSA back on track. The college support strategy deployed experts to colleges across the country to help financial aid officers navigate the new processing system.

The system provided one-time grants to school districts, States, and nonprofit organizations to scale up their ability to provide support to students. They had workshops, advising sessions, and media campaigns funded through the strategy to help produce a significant increase in FAFSA submissions throughout the summer.

Additionally, as the Department prepares for the launch of this year's FAFSA form, they are taking great strides in improving transparency and fixing technological issues.

I will include in the Record a document from the Department of Education titled: ``A focus on Improving the FAFSA Experience: Updates, actions, and a path forward for the 2025-26 cycle.'' This document outlines 10 core areas to focus on, making improvements to the FAFSA process for both students and colleges.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, which says, in part, that ``cementing an October launch date only addresses a piece of the puzzle; consistency is another. Students must be able to trust that the financial aid application process will function as intended and that they will receive clear communication along the way,'' and they wrote otherwise in support of the legislation.

[From NASFAA, July 10, 2024]

NASFAA Statement on FAFSA Deadline Act

Washington, DC.--Republicans in the U.S. House of

Representatives and Senate have introduced a pair of bills

that would ensure the Free Application for Federal Student

Aid, or FAFSA, is made available to students on October 1

each year, ahead of their planned year of enrollment.

The FAFSA form has typically been made available on October

1 each year since 2016, months earlier than the legally

mandated January 1 launch date. This discrepancy between

common practice and law came into play during this year's

turbulent FAFSA rollout, during which the updated ``Better

FAFSA'' became available to students in a limited and

incomplete fashion at the end of December 2023.

In response to this news, NASFAA Vice President of Public

Policy & Federal Relations Karen McCarthy issued the

following statement:

``Codifying the October 1 FAFSA launch date into law has

been a top priority for NASFAA for many years because, when

operating as intended, an earlier release date allows

colleges and universities to provide financial aid

information to students much sooner.

But cementing an October launch date only addresses a piece

of the puzzle; consistency is another. Students must be able

to trust that the financial aid application process will

function as intended and that they will receive clear

communication along the way.

This past year has shown us just how critical it is that

all students are able to complete the FAFSA as soon as

possible. Even today, there are aspects of the 2024-25 FAFSA

system that are not yet functional or working as intended.

However, in the absence of a clear timeline or

understanding from the Department of Education about when the

entire FAFSA system will be available--including the

application itself, the transfer of applicant data to

schools, and the ability for applicants and schools to make

corrections--forcing an October 1 deadline this year does not

guarantee a fully functioning form, and may in fact work

against efforts to release a product that has been tested and

found to run smoothly. We need all stakeholders to work

together in good faith to ensure this year's mistakes are not

repeated.

We continue to urge the Department of Education to ensure

that the entire FAFSA system is up and running as intended as

soon as possible and at the same time the application goes

live and to promptly communicate that timeline.''

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from The Hope Center at Temple University. They said: ``Students and their families deserve a form that is available all hours of the day, for all types of applicants, and results in the swift transfer of their information to the States and colleges that will develop their financial aid packages.''

They were ``concerned that implementing a rigid deadline less than 3 months away will force additional technical issues for applicants. Therefore, we request that you amend H.R. 8932 to start the new deadline on October 1, 2025.'' That is exactly what we have done in this underlying bill.

The Hope Center,

July 9, 2024.

Hon. Virginia Foxx,

Chairwoman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House

of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Bobby Scott,

Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott: The last

nine months have been challenging for students and their

families. Problems associated with implementing the overhaul

of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have

created significant confusion, frustration, and uncertainty

for many of those applying for the financial aid they need to

succeed in college. Therefore, we thank your Committee for

its continued interest in getting the FAFSA back on track,

especially for the upcoming 2025-26 cycle launching this

fall. We write to comment on H.R. 8932, the FAFSA Deadline

Act.

In normal years, we agree that the FAFSA should be required

to launch no later than nine months before the start of the

next award year--or by October 1--a timeline now made

possible with the use of prior-prior year tax data.

Therefore, we have also joined in coalition requests to the

U.S. Department of Education (ED) asking the agency to do

everything possible to launch a fully functional FAFSA on

time this year. However, it has become clear in recent weeks

that ED continues to confront technical issues that could

interrupt the usability of the 2025-26 FAFSA.

Students and their families deserve a form that is

available at all hours of the day, for all types of

applicants, and results in the swift transfer of their

information to the states and colleges that will develop

their aid packages. We must rebuild trust with applicants,

college access professionals, and financial aid

administrators, all of whom need to see a reliable FAFSA for

them to have confidence in the entire system of financial

aid.

Therefore, we believe it is preferable to have the 2025-26

FAFSA launch be slightly delayed but be fully functional,

over an on-time October 1 launch that comes with technical

issues and glitches, if such a tradeoff is at hand for the

upcoming award year. After the 2025-26 cycle, we support an

October 1 launch date requirement, but we are concerned that

implementing a rigid deadline less than three months away

will force additional technical issues for applicants.

Therefore, we request that you amend H.R. 8932 to start the

new deadline on October 1, 2025 (for the 2026-27 award year)

and avoid legislative changes for the 2025-26 cycle.

Additionally, we request that the Committee require a

public comment process for the 2026-27 award year and beyond

by amending the applicable language in Section 483(a)(4) of

the Higher Education Act (HEA). The public comment process is

a vital opportunity for stakeholders, practitioners, and

students to offer feedback on the design, wording, and format

of the questions and help text. However, on June 17 of this

year, ED announced that no public comment would be offered

for the 2025-26 FAFSA and that the form would instead

``remain consistent'' with the prior year. Given the

outstanding issues that remain with the FAFSA, we understand

this short-term decision, and we acknowledge a more open-

ended Request for Information (RFI) process is expected this

summer. However, an RFI does not have the same requirements

for ED to review each comment, and it should not be the

standard in future years.

One result of legislating an October 1 launch date for

2026-27 and beyond may be that the agency again declines to

offer public comment. We hope that such a result can be

prevented by requiring a public comment process like the one

that exists for other ED forms and significant rules for the

Title IV programs. The Committee may also wish to examine and

strengthen the consumer testing language in Section 483(b)(2)

of the HEA to ensure that it is conducted more frequently,

transparently, and effectively--including by requiring

information on who is involved in such testing and how it

results in updates to the form.

Finally, we note other legislative opportunities to

increase the awareness and uptake of federal financial aid.

The recipients of public and tax benefit programs--such as

the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

and Earned Income Tax Credit--would benefit from receiving

information about financial aid and vice versa. The FAFSA

Simplification Act supported such interagency coordination to

raise awareness of federal resources under Sections 483(c)(3)

and 485E(c) of the HEA. Additionally, Section 485E(d)

requires a public awareness campaign about Title IV aid

involving entities such as institutions of higher education,

organizations involved in college access and student

financial aid, local educational agencies, public libraries,

community centers, businesses, employers, workforce

investment boards, and organizations that provide services to

individuals who are or were homeless, in foster care, or are

disconnected youth. However, these sections could benefit

from additional requirements for these plans and campaigns,

including legislative deadlines and additional funding.

Again, we thank the Committee for working to fix the FAFSA.

With amendments to delay the effective date and require

public comment, we could support H.R. 8932, but we have

concerns in its current form. Given the importance of a

functional financial aid system for all students, we also

hope that the FAFSA remains a nonpartisan topic and that the

Committee searches for consensus on this legislation. We

would be happy to discuss the bill further or provide

additional information that may be useful to your efforts,

including suggested legislative language. We look forward to

continuing this critical conversation as you consider other

legislative proposals for the FAFSA and federal financial

aid.

Sincerely,

Bryce McKibben,

Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy,

The Hope Center at Temple University.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter in support from the American Council on Education, a consortium of several national college organizations that are also in support.

American Council on Education,

Washington, DC, July 9, 2024.

Hon. Virginia Foxx,

Chairwoman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House

of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Bobby Scott,

Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Workforce, House

of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott: On behalf of

the undersigned higher education associations, we write to

offer our support for H.R. 8932, the FAFSA Deadline Act,

which the committee will mark up tomorrow. This bill would

move up the statutory date for the annual release of the Free

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from Jan. 1 to

Oct. 1 each year. Making such a change would have significant

benefits for students applying or returning to college each

year and is a priority of the higher education community.

Giving students additional time to fully understand the

financial aid available to them is critical for a number of

reasons. As we noted in our May 22, 2024, letter to your

committee, ``moving the statutory deadline to October 1st

would ensure that students have ample time to complete the

form; give college access organizations and counselors time

to support student completion; and allow institutions to

process aid awards in time for students to make the best

college decisions.'' This year, we have also seen the

unfortunate consequences of delays in that information

reaching students, with a current 11.6 percent decline in

completed FAFSA applications at this point in the process.

We appreciate the effort and attention your committee has

paid to improving the FAFSA process and to meeting the needs

of low-income students. We strongly support the FAFSA

Deadline Act and encourage your members to vote for it in a

bipartisan manner when it is marked up tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Ted Mitchell,

President.

On behalf of:

American Association of Community Colleges.

American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

American Council on Educatio.

Association of American Universities.

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

National Association of Independent Colleges and

Universities.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this bill is about improving the process going forward. Obviously, the FAFSA rollout was a debacle, but even though it was a debacle, the FAFSA Simplification Act has resulted in over half a million more students receiving financial aid. We need to make sure that students and families have the information they need to make informed decisions about their futures.

Since H.R. 8932 will be implemented for next year's form, 2025 and onward, I believe it strikes the right balance between setting a clear deadline and providing the flexibility for the Department of Education to fix any lingering issues as they finish implementing the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act this year.

I urge my colleagues to support the legislation to help ensure financial aid is distributed promptly and effectively. I look forward to continuing to improve the FAFSA form and expanding access to financial aid as originally intended in the FAFSA Simplification Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 4259, the Think Differently about Education Act.

The bill requires schools to notify parents of their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Parents can invite experts with specialized knowledge of their child to attend the child's individualized education program meeting. This is important because key decisions are being made about their child's education in this meeting.

This proposal actually restates present law, but it ensures that parents are aware of and can exercise a right they have under current law.

However, I want to make it clear that I am not advocating for further amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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, the Think Differently about Education Act is a bipartisan bill that requires schools to notify parents of their right under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to bring an expert with specialized knowledge or expertise regarding their child to individualized education program meetings.

While parents clearly have this right under current law, they might not always be appropriately informed about their rights. This legislation ensures that parents will know that they can include experts who can assist them in shaping an IEP that meets the student's individual needs.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and encourage my colleagues to support it as well.

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

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.