HRES-763-119
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sponsored by Eleanor Norton (D-DC)
What it does
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating September 2025 as National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It cites statistics on campus sexual assault rates, reporting practices, and institutional responses, but it does not create any new program, funding, or legal requirement.
Who benefits
Advocacy organizations and survivor-support groups that could use the designation to raise public awareness, and college students generally who may benefit from increased attention to campus sexual assault prevention and reporting. No group receives new funding, legal rights, or programs from this resolution.
Who is hurt
No group is materially and negatively affected. This is a commemorative, non-binding resolution with no regulatory or fiscal effect on colleges, students, or any other party.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that campus sexual assault remains a serious and underreported problem, citing data showing less than 12 percent of rapes are reported and that many colleges lack adequate training, investigation protocols, or confidential reporting options. They contend that a designated awareness month helps focus public attention, encourages colleges to improve prevention and response practices, and supports survivors in coming forward.
Opponents argue
Opponents, or those skeptical of symbolic resolutions generally, argue that commemorative designations have no binding effect and do not address the underlying institutional failures the resolution itself documents, such as inadequate training or low expulsion rates. They contend that congressional time would be better spent on substantive legislation with enforceable requirements or funding rather than a non-binding statement of support.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question; it is a simple expression of House sentiment and does not exercise any legislative, spending, or regulatory power under Article I.
Checks and balances
No branch gains or loses authority; this is a non-binding expression of the House's position with no legal force and no mechanism for enforcement or implementation.
Historical precedent
Congress has previously passed similar commemorative resolutions designating awareness months for various social and health issues, though this specific designation has no directly binding predecessor.