[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          H. RES. 1288 NATIONAL CAMPUS SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, each fall, students arrive on college campuses 
and universities across the Nation to further their education. There is 
a general excitement about campus life and the opportunity to live away 
from home for the first time with little to no rules. However, the 
harsh reality soon becomes evident--that campuses are not immune from 
the threat of crime.
  Recognizing the very real presence of crime on college campuses and 
universities across America, I am a cosponsor of H. Res. 1288, 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness 
Month. This resolution designates the month of September as the 
National Campus Safety Awareness Month in partnership with hundreds of 
colleges and universities in the Nation.
  As the co-chair and founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights 
Caucus, I strongly believe that we need to raise awareness about crime 
issues present on campuses, such as sexual assault, stalking, hazing, 
and alcohol and drug abuse.
  This resolution encourages our Nation's colleges and universities to 
promote campus safety and crime awareness prevention programs. I am 
proud to know that several colleges and universities from my home state 
of Texas participated in the National Campus Safety Awareness Month 
last year, and my hope is that even more campuses and universities 
participate this year.
  The facts are before us--from 2004-2006 there were 8,114 forcible-sex 
offenses, 8,923 aggravated assaults, and 37 homicides on college and 
university campuses. Although we would like to think that these higher 
education institutions are immune from such heinous acts of crime, 
sadly they are not.
  I join with Rep. Sestak in support of H. Res. 1288, the National 
Campus Safety Awareness Month, because although there is a lot of work 
to be done to make our campuses a safer place, this resolution is a 
step in the right direction.

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