CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Questions/Talking Points

You probably won’t be able to speak with the Representative directly, so it is best to ask for the Legislative Assistant (LA) that handles Education, Campus Crime, or Right to Information issues. If the LA is not available ask for a Senior LA or Legislative Director (LD). If neither a LA nor LD is available, leave your contact information so they can return your call, but also be sure to ask for a time that is more convenient for you to call back. It’s usually best not to speak with Staff Assistants because often your message and its importance can get lost in the system.

The Following Questions and Talking Points will provide you with the information you need to speak with congressional staff:

The House of Representatives

Are you familiar with the non-disclosure policy of many colleges and universities?

(I recommend you research your own college or university for their policy on disclosure of violent crime and non-forcible sex offenses before talking about this question, but it’s not necessary. For you Hoyas, Georgetown’s current policy does not require the disclosure of the results of disciplinary hearings or notification of changes that result during the appeals process.)

Currently many institutions of higher education have policies that do not require or even prohibit the release of the results of violent crime and non-forcible sex offense disciplinary hearings to the public or even the victims of these heinous acts. 

Have you heard of H.R. 128, the David Shick Honesty in Campus Justice Act?

The purpose of the H.R. 128 is “to amend the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to improve the access of the victims of crimes to information concerning the outcome of disciplinary proceedings by institutions of higher education.”

The David Shick Honesty in Campus Justice Act, was originally sponsored by Congressman Frelinghuysen of NJ during the 108th Congress. It was referred to the House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness (of the House Committee on Education and Labor), where it “died” in Committee… In other words Congress never voted on it. 

Currently, in the 110th Congress, H.R. 128 was reintroduced and referred again to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness of the House Committee on Education and Labor. We are currently trying to increase Co-Sponsorship and put pressure the Committee to “markup” the bill and present it for a vote before the House of Representatives. 

Does the Congressman have any current plans to Co-Sponsor this bill?

I would like to urge the Congressman to show his support for victims of campus crime and their right to information about campus disciplinary hearings. I believe there is no reason that this Bill should stay in Committee and would like the Congressman’s pledge of support for this legislation by Co-Sponsoring H.R. 81. This legislation is far too important for my Representative to wait on the sidelines for it to come before him on the House Floor. 

(Don’t get confused when they say the congressman will certainly consider voting in favor of this bill… Try to stress that voting for this bill is not enough and that you expect nothing less than co-sponsorship. There is no reason that would prevent any member of the House of Representatives from co-sponsoring H.R. 128)

Remember - this Bill does not apply to the Senate, yet, so there are different talking points: 

The Senate

The Senate works more or less in a similar manner as the House, so many of the questions and talking points will be the same. The big difference is they most likely won’t have heard of H.R. 128 and they will pretty much have nothing to do with it until it gets passed by the House of Representatives, at which time they will have an opportunity to vote on it themselves. However, Senators have an additional option to sponsor legislation of their own, which will either have the same language as H.R. 128 or differ slightly. 

Are you familiar with the non-disclosure policy of many colleges and universities?

The same as the House…see above for talking points

Does the Senator currently have any plans to Sponsor legislation to correct these problems?

There is a House Bill, The David Shick Honesty in Campus Justice Act (H.R. 128), introduced with the purpose “to amend the Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) to improve the access of the victims of crimes to information concerning the outcome of disciplinary proceedings by institutions of higher education.” (Remember – Senators can’t vote for H.R. 128 until it passes in the House)

I would like to urge the Senator to show his support for victims of campus crime and their right to information about campus disciplinary hearings by sponsoring comparable legislation in the Senate. This legislation is far too important for my Senator to wait on the sidelines for H.R. 128 to die in the House during another Congress. 

In either case, I expect your full support in passing H.R. 128 into law should it come before you for a vote on the Senate Floor.