Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently reintroduced the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) to help combat sexual assault on college campuses and improve how higher education institutions address incidents of sexual violence and harassment.
The two senators first introduced CASA in 2014 and have consistently pushed for its passage. The pair have also worked together on other bipartisan legislation, such as the Speak Out Act, which protects survivors’ rights to speak out about sexual assault and harassment, and the Ending Force Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which prevents perpetrators from pushing survivors into the secretive, biased process of forced arbitration.
If passed, CASA would mandate institutions’ websites to include campus safety policies, annual security reports, instructions for filing complaints, and statistics on sexual misconduct allegations on campus. Higher education institutions would also be directed to hire sexual and interpersonal violence specialists to serve as resources for victims, and require those specialists to receive training. The bill also outlines protections for individuals who report sexual misconduct, ensuring they are not punished for any physical violence in self-defense, or alcohol or drug abuse.
Additionally, CASA calls for the expansion of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Campus Grant Program, and would require the Comptroller General to study VAWA grant efficacy and submit a report to Congress within two years of the bill’s enactment.
“Sexual assault on college campuses remains a serious and persistent problem, and it is up to us in Congress to protect survivors and make sure these crimes are handled with fairness,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act would strengthen the support network for survivors and increase accountability for schools by creating a standardized process for investigating instances of sexual assault. This will help survivors get the justice they deserve and ensure a fair process for everyone involved. I’m proud to lead this legislation and committed to working across the aisle to get it passed.”
“Across America, inconsistent enforcement mechanisms are failing to treat sexual assault crimes with the seriousness they deserve. We’re taking action to change that,” said Senator Grassley. “Our legislation creates a coordinated approach to address incidents of sexual assault on college campuses. It would inform university protocols for handling reports, and it would strengthen recovery resources for survivors and empower them to know their rights.”