[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5753-H5754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING DALTON DEBRICK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Van Duyne) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stop 
Campus Hazing Act. I rise on behalf of those who cannot, including 
Dalton Debrick, an Irving native who tragically lost his life at the 
young age of 18.
  Dalton loved life and lit up a room with his smile. He grew up 
participating in sports, including baseball and other activities at the 
Irving YMCA.
  These experiences led Dalton to work with children and, after 
originally declaring an engineering major, inspired him to switch paths 
to pursue a career in coaching and teaching.
  A kindhearted, bright young man, Dalton played baseball and made an 
impact in our northeast Texas community through his sports teams and 
involvement in church programs. After 13 years of hard work, Dalton 
graduated from Nimitz High School and was excited to attend Texas Tech 
University in Lubbock.
  Like many of us, Dalton's parents, who are with us in the gallery 
today, were filled with mixed emotions when they dropped off their 
eldest child,

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proud of their son for pursuing his lifetime dream of attending Tech 
but nervous for his new chapter.

  On August 18, 2014, Dalton turned 18. Days later, his loving family 
moved him into his freshman dorm, and by August 24, 2014, Dalton went 
home to be with his Lord. He never got to experience his first day of 
college nor the joy of graduating and beginning his adult career.
  The night before he was set to begin his freshman year, Dalton was 
killed in an alcohol-fueled hazing incident. After being forced to 
drink a keg of beer in less than 30 minutes and half a handle of 
whiskey, Dalton was left in a room unconscious and covered in vomit, 
guarded by a fraternity member so he wouldn't be seen and couldn't be 
helped.
  Mr. Speaker, 911 wouldn't be called until 3 hours after he was found 
dead, with a blood alcohol content four times the legal limit. Dalton's 
death was preventable.
  Since Dalton's death, his mom, Debbie, has spoken out and used her 
platform to urge students to look after each other and to be someone 
her son didn't have.
  In her discussions with colleges and universities, Debbie has been an 
incredible advocate, working to fulfill Dalton's dream of educating 
children. In doing so, Debbie and Dalton are saving lives.
  Debbie has worked with the Anti-Hazing Coalition to warn families 
about the dangers of hazing and to pass legislation that will help 
prevent other parents from experiencing this immeasurable loss.
  In 2019, Debbie worked to get Texas Senate Bill 38 signed into law, 
which changed criminal prosecution for hazing offensives and requires 
universities to be transparent about hazing incidents on campus.
  In the more than 10 years since Dalton was tragically taken from us, 
Debbie has saved countless students and families from suffering the 
same fate.
  Between 1959 and 2021, at least one hazing death occurred per year on 
a U.S. college campus. Currently, campus safety laws do not require 
colleges to report data about hazing, and State-level hazing 
definitions and penalties are inconsistent.
  The Stop Campus Hazing Act provides uniform antihazing guidance, 
mandating that institutions include hazing incidents in their annual 
reports, requiring them to implement hazing prevention programs and 
publish their hazing policies online, along with information about 
which student organizations have a history of hazing incidents.
  This is not only a tool for institutions to combat hazing but will 
also help empower students to make informed decisions when choosing 
between which schools to attend, clubs to join, and Greek life on 
campus.
  I am hopeful that if we work together, we can put an end to the 
hazing culture that is all too common on college campuses. It is 
imperative that we protect students, provide parents with reassurance, 
ensure accountability for perpetrators, and save lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Debbie and her husband for their tireless work, 
advocating not only for Dalton but the countless other parents who 
tragically lost their children the same way. I thank my colleagues for 
supporting this important legislation as we take a crucial step to stop 
these preventable tragedies.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank them for being here today.

                          ____________________