Costa Supports Legislation to Strengthen Prevention and Enforcement Efforts to Combat Sexual Violence
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Costa joined Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Congressman Patrick Meehan in introducing the bipartisan "Hold Accountable and Lend Transparency (HALT) Campus Sexual Violence Act." This bill would strengthen prevention and enforcement efforts to combat campus sexual violence by increasing transparency and accountability.
"We all have a role to play and a responsibility to work toward a future free from sexual assault and violence. Colleges and Universities have an opportunity to take the lead in reducing the prevalence of sexual assault in our society and especially on their own campuses," said Rep. Costa. "The HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act will help ensure that college campuses throughout the nation are taking sexual assault crimes seriously and are taking the strongest possible stand against them."
Under federal law, students are entitled to a safe educational environment free of sexual harassment. But statistics show that 20 percent of young women and 6 percent of young men will be victims of attempted or actual sexual assault on campus. The HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act is the legislative approach to combatting campus sexual violence that garners a wide array of support from anti-violence advocacy groups.
"In addition to the introduction of the HALT Campus Sexual Violence Act, the House appropriations bill passed yesterday provides essential funding to support victims of crime. I was extremely pleased that, as requested in a letter I sent to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, the cap on the Crime Victims Fund (Fund) was increased to $2.7 billion. This increase represents a historic investment in meeting the needs of crime victims for victims' services and compensation. This funding is imperative for organizations throughout California's 16th Congressional district including, the Marjoree Mason Center, Madera Community Action Partnership, and Merced's Valley Crisis Center."