Protecting Students on Campus

Apr 18, 2014

E-Newsletter

Sexual violence on college campuses is a crisis. It's an issue of particular importance in our region, home to one of the largest concentrations of colleges and universities in the nation. Over the last several weeks, I've worked with some of our region's top experts on campus safety issues to develop recommendations for reducing assault and ensuring victims receive the care they need.

We're also working to protect your sensitive personal data from cyberattack. This week I chaired a hearing on the work being done by both law enforcement and the private sector to keep your personal information secure.

Meanwhile, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives continue our work to reduce the burdens of big government on our job creators, eliminate wasteful spending, and hold the Obama administration accountable for its failures implementing Obamacare

To learn more about what I have been working on, please visit my website, my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter.

Sincerely,

Congressman Patrick Meehan Signature

Protecting Students on Campus from Sexual Violence

Congressman Meehan meets with the Campus Sexual Violence Advisory Council at Penn State-Brandywine on March 17, 2014

Law enforcement statistics indicate that as many as one in five females will be the victims of rape or attempted rape during their time in college. While colleges, law enforcement and federal agencies have taken important steps towards preventing sexual assault on campus, there's more that can and should be done both to prevent assault and protect victims.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama ordered the creation of a White House Task Force to examine the issue of sexual assault and develop policies to combat it. Our region has significant experience in campus safety issues, and this experience can benefit and inform the White House's work. That's why I formed the Campus Sexual Violence Advisory Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, made up of experts like the Vice President for Public Safety at the University of Pennsylvania, the Executive Director of the Clery Center for Security on Campus, and the superintendent of the Radnor Township Police Department.

On Monday, our advisory council unveiled a report that made concrete recommendations to the White House Task Force. I co-authored an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer that summarizes our findings.

Protecting Your Personal Information

Recent data breaches like those that occurred at Target and Neiman Marcus demonstrate just how serious the threat of cybercrime is to American consumers. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, I've introduced legislation that will strengthen the federal government's ability to prevent cyberattack while protecting Americans' privacy.

On Wednesday, I chaired a hearing at Drexel University that examined the issue of cybercrime in depth, as well as how we're responding to it. We heard testimony from experts including Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan, representatives from the Secret Service and the FBI, as well as the president of a local bank.

For more information about the hearing, click here.