Scott Introduces CAMPUS Safety Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) introduced the Center to Advance Monitor and Preserve University Security (CAMPUS) Safety Act, a bill to create a National Center for Campus Public Safety. Congressman Scott introduced the bill along with Representatives Frank Wolf (VA-10) and Elijah Cummings (MD-7).

The CAMPUS Safety Act will create a National Center for Campus Public Safety, which will be administered through the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The Center will train campus public safety agency personnel, encourage research to strengthen college safety and security, and serve as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of relevant campus public safety information. The CAMPUS Safety Act previously passed the House of Representatives by voice vote as a standalone bill in the 110th and 111th Congresses and was included in the House-passed versions of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 in the 110th Congress and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 in the 112th Congress.

"In the wake of the Newtown tragedy and almost six years since the shootings at Virginia Tech, it is clear that violence at our schools is a national problem that must be addressed," said Rep. Scott. "There is a wealth of information available to help schools prevent such violence and effectively respond if and when such incidences occur. The CAMPUS Safety Act ensures that this information will be available to all schools. Although this bill was originally drafted in direct response to the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings to assist college and university campuses, elementary and secondary schools and their governing agencies will also be able to access the informational and training benefits of the Center. It is my hope that we can finally pass this important bill to establish the National Center for Campus Public Safety to ensure that our nation's schools have better access to this critical information."

Congressman Scott is the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations on the Committee on the Judiciary and a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He is also a Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

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