I wanna thank listen slogan for leading the introduction of this bill in the House of Representatives She's been a real champion on this issue and we look forward to working with her in the House he's a great partner I'd also like to recognize senator corn and the Co sponsor here in the Senate who I worked with last year as well as we were starting this process here in the Senate as well as my colleagues senator stabbing on I would also like to thank representatives Upton and Mitchell for being here today and being engaged in a bipartisan and by camera on effort to get this past and I wanna also wanna thank Deborah Vegans from the American Association of Today, women for joining us as well This is an issue that impacts not just the survivors in Michigan but really all across our country One thing That's clear to me especially in my meeting with the survivors of the abuse that was inflicted upon them by Larry Nasser is His sentencing is certainly not the end in any way to addressing this ordeal for them and for countless other survive Rivers all across our country we need to address the flaws in the system that have clearly clearly a failed to protect young people I was certainly truly inspired by the survivors. I'm Sure everybody up here was and I've met them and I saw firsthand their their courage and their commitment to Justice It was their courage, that has inspired many others to come forward who are victims of sexual abuse And It's their courage, that will help stop predators from abusing more young athletes in Michigan. Unfortunately there is still a serious trust deficit between the Cdu and the survivors the student body and the faculty and in Michigan families I'm encouraged that the board of Trustees fired acting President Mister Angler earlier this year as they embark on a search for a new President it was clear Mister anglers lack of empathy towards the survivors has made them feel disrespected and dismissed with him gone. The healing process can move forward and begin, and it should have happened, of course along long time ago But ultimately, we need to make sure that there is no excuse used by the top officials at the University. Especially the excuse that I Didn't know that can never ever be used as an excuse for permitting monster is abuse to come forward and watch official Said and and see officials not stand up for the students that they are entrusted to support In the case of Larry Nassar, University leaders complained that they were unaware of reports despite the involvement of the title Nine office on campus for example for example, Doctor Simon acknowledged last year during my questioning when she testified before the Senate But she did not read the 2014 title Nine report documenting Vacations of misconduct by Doctor Nasser and even added that she even added it wasn't normal wasn't normal for her to review. The reports of these kinds of allegations will add fact is simply unacceptable and That's. Why Congress needs to pass our bipartisan and by camera legislation our bill is very straightforward. It will require University leaders to certify that they have reviewed any reports of sexual abuse perpetrated by University employees to the Department of Education I think it is clear all the Answers that are standing up here with me today that if a University employee someone who is entrusted with the well being of students on that campus it has a title nine case before them are involving them, a University President or a trustee at least University President analyst one trustee needs to be aware of it We need to learn the truth so that those who are enabled in and those who protected Doctor Nassar are held accountable for our children for our students to make sure that they are never ever abused again Someone as monstrous as Doctor Nasser I'm pleased to have bike partisan by camera effort to address this issue and I'm hopeful that we can advance this legislation in the Senate and the House and do it as soon as possible and That's. Why I wanna welcome. Co sponsor and a great champion on this issue Senator Cornyn from Texas Well, thank you, Senator Peters and Senator Stabbed now my colleagues in the Senate, thanks to our colleagues over in the House for their hard work on this very important and sensitive issue some of the most disturbing reports of sexual violence and abuse of those who take place on our College campuses I know as a father of two daughters when I send my daughter sent my daughters off to school The last thing I wanted is for them to become a victim of some sexual assault or abuse That administrators and the faculty turned a blind high two We know That's. What has happened despite the fact that official title nine were external investigations have been conducted on a number of places That's. Why we need the Alert Act The goal of this bill as Senator Peter says is to improve accountability University officials will no longer be able to turn a blind eye to these sorts of serious allegations with this bill, we put a spotlight where it deserves to be placed on school leadership And we expect them to do their job and if they're going to qualify under Title nine we I look forward to working with all of my colleagues on this issue and as you can see it does enjoy bipartisan by cameras support That's the way we actually get things done around here and That's what we will do here So we can get this important bill to the President's desk as soon as possible But that let me turn the floor over to our friend and colleagues and her stamina Thank you, Senator Cornyn and Senator Peters for your wonderful leadership. My House colleagues congresswoman If I can thank you for your leadership and and Congressman Upton, then Congress Deborah thank you for being here with the W This is so important and we in Michigan really have felt this deeply because of what has happened at our alma mater and so we feel as Responsibility to stand up for the student athletes and other students that are involved our colleges and universities have no greater responsibility than to keep young people safe period All of us who have sent our children to College expect that every parent should expect that every young person should expect that and when they fail to meet that responsibility they must be held accountable this legislation Is an important way to do that I've had the honor to meet with many young people that those who are survivors both here in DC I as well as at home in Michigan and every time I've spoken to them I am struck by their strength and by their bravery and I'm also struck by the fact that they are focused on making a difference they want to be involved They want to be part of the solution and part The future and making things better and making sure that young athletes never never experience what they had to endure with this legislation we are joining their fight as their partners It will help ensure that universities take sexual abuse seriously and that their leadership is held accountable Many of the survivors have mentioned how incredibly alone they felt back at that time we're here today To let them know, they are not alone now so I want to turn now to our lead sponsor Congresswoman Melissa Thank you so much for all that you're doing with this legislation and representing my alma mater. So well good afternoon everyone I wanna thank Senator Peters senator Stab now Senator Cornyn and Congressman updated in Mitchell for demonstrating really such wonderful bipartisan leadership I'm extremely proud to introduce the Alert Act today in the House Most importantly I wanna thank the survivor advocates who have demonstrated real leadership and real current courage and calling us to act it's my privilege to represent the district that includes Michigan State University, one of america's great universities countless students, faculty, staff and campus leaders have responded to the revelations of horrific crimes on campus with bravery and determination and wisdom And for that very reason, I feel a special responsibility as their representative in Congress to answer their courage with Action It is our responsibility in answering that call to put forward things like the Alert Act It's about accountability, this piece of legislation the accountability, the accountability of leaders on our nation's campuses to the students they are supposed to serve with this legislation. We would require that senior University leaders are made aware of sexual assault complaints against any University employee in doing so we will ensure that no O University President Chancellor board of trustees can ever respond to news of a sexual predator on their campus with a shrug and say I Didn't know no one told me and I couldn't have helped it we must have University leaders who act to protect the safety and health of their students I was very pleased that I was able to seek interim or support and interest and advocacy from Interim President Michigan, Michigan State University's Tisha as well as the President of Oakland University or Pesky pets They specifically weighed in on this legislation they're both pleased and both supportive It's, particularly important to me today, that we are doing this in a bipartisan fashion with my Stations with survivor advocates, they have specifically emphasize that they do not want this issue to be political and be part of washington's partisan battles They are calling on us not to score political points but protect safety and welfare of young people and I really thank my colleagues for joining us today by passing the Alert Act we can take one step forward in establishing accountability on our campuses For me. This is just a first step Not my last on the legislation that we're gonna put forward to improve title nine I've had the privilege Meeting dozens and dozens of survivors and advocates in the district and outside including a conversation we just had in the past 10 days on sexual assault earlier this month we discuss how much more there is to do and I must say that I'm committed to doing all. I can to communicate those stories to the senior leaders who need to hear them And for that reason, I'm very pleased to have the chance to meet with Secretary Betsy Devos who is graciously agreed to speak with me in my office next week Again, I'm proud to stand with my bipartisan by camera counterparts and urge all my colleagues to support the Alert Act thanks very much now Congressman Upton I'm Fred Upton in for this for me, this is personal particularly for those of us from Michigan Many of us know somebody who is a victim Thank God they spoke out and now we have to be on their team This has to be exposed and we have to have real penalties for those that violate the standard that all of us so want to have for all of our University For me, I'm first of all very grateful for listen for Gary and Debbie and John and Paul and the different groups. it has to be bipartisan for us to get this thing done It is I also want to applaud our University. So for me, I represent Southwest Michigan. I've reached out to all of our universities and community colleges They are in full support of what we're doing today They really embrace this legislation and the quicker we can get it introduced and will be introduced in the House said today and the more Co sponsors we can get on both sides of the aisle the better chance we have to going to our respective leadership and say let's get this on Let's put it up in the House under suspension requires a two thirds vote, but you don't have to worry about perhaps the normal Committee process to get it done and actually get the bill to the President where we can join them and maybe even get a pin for something that is long overdue one of the victims I heard from just last week she is out on the stump and this is not to be hidden anymore so the more sunlight we can expose on particularly But others, it may be victims of this the better it is and the faster it will stop That's. What this bill will do I'm glad to learn my my support and get a lot of others said to join with me and let me introduce a Paul Mitchell, a a good man from the other side of my state but also one that cares deeply about this issue Thanks very much as a graduate of Michigan State University, when I first heard about the concerns the doctor master I was disgusted as the parent is six children some of which have gone through College some yet to go I was horrified I have a staff member. Former staff member Who's daughter was a victim of track and field athlete who attempted suicide at least once So I was happy to join this bill to take some action to hold leadership accountable to make them take responsibility as Senator Peters To have a leader of an institution, say I Didn't know I don't read those things Don't even read the executive summary Are you kidding me a fundamental responsibility of College universities to provide a safe and secure environment as much as humanly possible that should be the first priority Then you should worry about education opportunity to fail to do that to feel to take that personally This is personal It's personal to me is my institution I graduate from there she personally won the state of Michigan and Lord knows his personal to the victims and survivors that expect better of that University and all universities So yes we're going to hold them accountable. We expect them to certify. They know about this they're taking action on this and actions taken that they're not tampering with Is more important to protect students that it is to worry about protecting your short term reputation because at Michigan State University shows Eventually it comes back to bite you in a big way So thank you very much. I'm Gonna turn this over to Deborah Vegan Who's The Executive Vice President for a W I'm Sorry W thank you good afternoon I wanted to thank Senator Peters for having me here today and to thank him senator corn and savvy now representative flat can and update in Mitchell for their strong support on this issue. I'm Deborah Vegans I'm The senior vice President of public policy and research at the American Association of University Women We are nonpartisan A nonprofit Organization with more than a hundred and 70000 members in every state and territory working to advance gender equity and we know that equal access to education is essential to achieving that goal title nine was enacted nearly 50 years ago so that all students could have access to an education free from sex discrimination including sexual misconduct this groundbreaking civil rights statute has had a dramatic effect in all areas of education opening opportunities for women in all aspects. Their educational life but despite tremendous gains, women and girls still face barriers to accessing education and, of course one of the worst examples of that is the uptick. And although the increased recognition that sexual assault creates an unequal educational environment It's obvious that an educational environment fraught with sexual misconduct can impeded a student's ability to perform well in school and in Street, extreme cases prompt them to drop out And some of those shocking cases of that have been mentioned about suicide and horrible examples of the most extreme examples Unfortunately, we know that our laws and systems are not achieving the goals they were designed to do our research shows the pervasiveness of sex based harassment and violence within schools We analyze data that showed in in high school. Seven Middle and high school students are facing over 50 percent of students are facing just sexual harassment and that follows them into College 60 percent of both men and women are experiencing sexual harassment and we know that many schools are not disclosing incidents of sexual violence So, for example 89 percent of colleges and University campuses fail to disclose even a single incident of rape in 2016 as 89 percent of colleges These numbers do not square with what research shows students are experiencing and this this Under reporting can come from variety of sources individual student fears of reporting to school authorities or law enforcement of the fear of retaliation procedural gaps, and how institutions respond to incidents or to students a reluctance on the part of institutions to be Associated with problems or a combination of all these factors But regardless of the reasons educational institutions have a legal responsibility to accurately and diligently monitor disclosed and response to sexual misconduct and when schools do not report sexual violence they denied Dance and thus cannot take the steps necessary to stop it simply put We are failing to fulfill title nine 's promise that every student, regardless of sex can have equal access to education and it's up to leadership in at our colleges and universities to make school safe and Congress and these great leaders here to hold these leaders accountable to our federal laws. So You've heard the high profile stories that remind us that there have been lots of incidents on peer on peer by Violence but it's not only the sexual violence that we suffer from peers, but from school employees faculty and staff and we also heard that others in leadership can turn a blind eye So that behavior is obviously unacceptable against the law and schools must respond to it and end it and wear schools fail We need bills legislation like the Alert Act to strengthen our laws and our enforcement to hold them accountable So the Alert Act is one of the many steps Congress can take that would help this bipolar By Camera bill Take strides to respond to sexual assault committed by employees at on campuses it would encourage students. It would help deal with this issue of under reporting by showing them that their school is committed to prioritizing students safety and to push schools to ensure that they are responding to incidents of sexual misconduct And it also motivates colleges and universities to prioritize responding to sexual violence at the highest levels by the President and the boards of institutions so gender equal. Is only possible if women and girls have full access to education free from the fear of violence and this bill takes many steps towards fulfilling title Nine 's important promise. So thank you very Thank you, Deborah open it up now for questions I'll be right behind you I'll. Be right behind you