DeLauro Statement on report by White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on “Not Alone,” the first report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault. In January, DeLauro joined 38 of her colleagues in urging the Department of Education to issue new policy guidance to improve transparency of campus data, investigations and enforcement actions, and provide additional guidance for responding to same-sex violence and gender identity discrimination. All of the changes DeLauro and her colleagues advocated for are included in today’s report. In February, DeLauro met with Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, and students, Administrators, advocates, and staff at Southern Connecticut State University to discuss improving the response to victims of sexual assault and increase prevention education and training at all Connecticut institutions of higher education.

“I am pleased to see the Administration recognize the continuing crisis of sexual assault on college campuses. But now the onus is on schools and law enforcement to see them through and end this outrage, which happens on campuses all over America. It was not all that long ago, before the Violence Against Women Act, that rape and domestic violence were shuffled under the rug. In the 1970s, ordinary women first took up the reins of activism for those who suffered in violence. Just like thirty years ago, the energy and the change will come from women on college campuses standing up and saying they will tolerate this no longer. I will continue to work with my colleagues and Connecticut’s colleges and universities to ensure this conversation is one day a relic of history.”