The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) strongly urges President Joe Biden to pass the Jenna Quinn Law, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. These three pieces of legislation are vital for preventing sexual violence. In passing these essential bills, President Biden will solidify his life-long dedication to addressing violence against women.
The Jenna Quinn Law will prevent child sexual abuse by providing funding for vital prevention programs. This bill authorizes existing grant funds to be used to train and educate students, teachers, school employees, caregivers, and other adults who work with children on sexual abuse prevention. The legislation was named after Jenna Quinn, a Texan who survived abuse as a young child and is now a vocal advocate. There are many streams of funding available for addressing child sexual abuse but there are limited funding streams for its prevention. We owe it to children nationwide to adequately fund both prevention and support services. This bill is a step in the right direction, ensuring funding for sexual violence prevention across the country.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act will require colleges to improve reporting and prevention of hazing on campus. Currently, hazing is very common, with more than 50% of students involved in some form. A significant portion of these harms include hazing-induced sexual violence. This bill is vital for creating a standard definition of hazing, providing transparency and accountability, tracking the issue, and helping educators take action. This bill will ensure students and campus stakeholders are educated about hazing, know how to report it, and possess skills to help prevent it. The Stop Campus Hazing Act will prevent hazing-induced sexual violence on college campuses across the U.S.
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act will safeguard the health and well-being of youth in residential programs across the United States. Currently, sexual violence is rife in these programs due to the lack of transparency and oversight. This bill will prevent sexual violence by requiring these programs to adhere to protective standards and transparency measures. It would establish an interagency Federal Work Group on Youth Residential Programs to research and implement best practices, disseminate guidelines, provide education for administrators, and provide oversight. By strengthening inter-agency coordination, increasing transparency and accountability, and paving the way for future systemic improvements, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act will prevent sexual violence against thousands of youth in residential programs.
The SVPA has proudly endorsed the Jenna Quinn Law, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. We strongly encourage President Biden to sign these three bills into law. There is no more fitting end to his life-long career than continuing his legacy of protecting women and children across the country.
