Scott Introduces CAMPUS Safety Act
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-3) introduced the Center to Advance Monitor and Preserve University Security (CAMPUS) Safety Act. The purpose of this legislation is to enable institutions of higher education to easily obtain the best information available on how to keep college campuses safe and how to best respond in the event of a campus emergency. The CAMPUS Safety Act was also introduced in the 110th and 111th Congresses; it passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in 2008 and 2009.
The CAMPUS Safety Act of 2011 will create a National Center for Campus Public Safety (the "Center"), to be administered through the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The Center will train campus public safety agencies, encourage research to strengthen college safety and security, and serve as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of relevant campus public safety information.
"Over the past few years, we have seen too many tragedies occur at our colleges and universities, such as the disastrous events that occurred at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University," stated Rep. Scott. "Unfortunately, because these events were the first of their kind for the schools, the Administrators were not fully knowledgeable about how best to respond. The recent shooting near Old Dominion University in my congressional district further illustrates the need for Congress to pass this bill."
Rep. Scott is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security and also sits on the House Education and Workforce Committee.
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