For Immediate Release
September 12, 2008		 Contact:  202.225.8351   
     

Rep. Scott and Rep. Gohmert Introduce CAMPUS Safety Act of 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-3) and Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX-1) introduced the Center to Advance Monitor and Preserve University Security (CAMPUS) Safety Act of 2008.  Rep. Scott is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security and also sits on the House Education and Labor Committee.  Rep. Gohmert is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

 

The CAMPUS Safety Act of 2008 will create a National Center for Campus Public Safety (the “Center”), 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 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 numerous tragedies occur at our colleges and universities, including 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, they were not fully knowledgeable about how to respond. The purpose of this legislation is to enable our institutions of higher education to easily obtain the best information available on how to keep our campuses safe and secure and how to respond in the event of a campus emergency.”

 

"It is important that while we remember those who were lost or impacted during the recent tragic attacks on our college campuses, we must also take steps to prevent future incidents,” said Rep. Gohmert.  “Equipping our higher institutions to be prepared in such extreme emergencies is in the best interest of our students, school staff, and our communities, and this bill will help us to carry out that priority of providing for their safety."

 

The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further action.

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