Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault on Campus

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing legislation to support survivors of sexual assault on college campuses. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, would require that every college and university that receives federal funding have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response.

"As we continue working to ensure that our students are safe on campus, the S.O.S. Campus Act would help to ensure that survivors of sexual assault at colleges and universities receive the treatment and support they deserve," said Senator Hirono. "All students deserve to be safe and supported on campus and I will keep fighting to combat sexual violence and ensure that survivors can access much-needed medical, legal, and mental health resources."

Sexual violence and harassment on college campus is heavily underreported, in part due to shortcomings in existing reporting structures. After a change to Title IX under the Trump administration, many universities experienced a drastic decrease in the number of sexual assaults being reported. The Association of Title IX Administrators estimated that upwards of 90% of sexual misconduct cases are handled "informally" and without formal protections and guidance for survivors.

The S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to:

• Emergency and follow-up medical care,
• Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement,
• Medical forensic or evidentiary exams,
• Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and
• Information on their legal rights.

Local rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations are currently providing many of these services in communities and on campuses around the nation. The legislation recognizes the importance of these partnerships by requiring that universities either consult with or partner with these organizations to ensure that survivors can access the services they need.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

Senator Hirono has been a strong advocate for making sure survivors of campus sexual assault have the resources they need to be supported. Earlier this Congress, she reintroduced the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), which, like the S.O.S. Campus Act, would provide additional resources for colleges and universities to support survivors. Specifically, GEEA would create an Office for Gender Equity (OGE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that would, among other things, be responsible for providing Title IX coordinators with annual trainings, detailed information, and best practices about Title IX compliance. ED's OGE would also be responsible for administering a new $160 million grant program to provide resources for colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other entities to comply with Title IX.

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