Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced two bills Sept. 30 aimed at preventing sexual assault on college campuses and expanding support for student survivors. Both pieces of legislation would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 — a federal law that governs federal programs and funding for higher education institutions.
“Every student deserves to live and learn in a healthy and safe environment,” Kaine said in a press release Oct. 1. “We must do everything we can to prevent sexual assault on college campuses and provide comprehensive support to survivors.”
Kaine said in the press release that the legislation would help ensure survivors have access to medical care, counseling and academic support provided by their universities while continuing their educational and professional goals.
The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act — the first of the two bills introduced — would require federally funded colleges and universities to designate an “independent advocate” focused on campus sexual assault prevention and response. The S.O.S. Campus Act would require the independent advocate to help survivors access medical care, forensic examinations, counseling, legal information and guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement. The bill does not specify that the advocate must be a university employee.
Under the S.O.S. Campus Act, institutions would also be required to consult or partner with local rape crisis centers through a memorandum of understanding. The University currently partners with the Charlottesville-based Sexual Assault Resource Agency — which provides confidential support and avocacy services to survivors.
The Support for Universities and Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors Act — the second piece of legislation introduced — would establish a federal grant program for colleges and universities to provide academic support and counseling services for students who experience sexual assault and other forms of violence. The SUCCESS Act would provide grants for colleges to use for re-entry assistance to students who previously took a leave of absence or withdrew from their institution, trauma training for faculty and academic advisors, tutoring, wraparound services such as housing and health care and other services for survivors.
Under the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy — which implements requirements under federal and state law — sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking are prohibited. The policy requires the University to provide resources and support for students and employees who report sexual misconduct, including supportive measures such as academic modifications, residence modification and no-contact directives.
According to the policy, the University also provides access to confidential counseling and survivor advocacy services through resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Violence Prevention and Advocacy and the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center. Considering the University’s existing resources, the legislation would create federal grant funding specifically for services such as re-entry assistance as well as tutoring and training for faculty and academic advisers.
In a press release Oct. 2, Dingell said students who experience sexual violence should not have to choose between their safety and continuing their education. She also referenced the recent sexual assault allegations at Cornell University — where a former student filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity in 2024. Dingell cited the allegations as part of the urgency behind the legislation.
“Every student deserves to feel safe on their college campus and to know if they experience sexual violence, they will be supported and taken seriously,” Dingell said in the release. “The urgency to act has been put into sharp relief as we learn more about the horrific allegations coming out of Cornell.”
Kaine — a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee — introduced the 2026 versions of the bills with Dingell. The SUCCESS Act is co-sponsored by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Booker and Fetterman also cosponsored the S.O.S. Campus Act. The American Psychological Association and Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network have endorsed both bills.
In a press release Oct. 1, Booker said that colleges have the responsibility to help survivors cope with the effects of sexual violence rather than expecting them to independently seek medical and health services while remaining academically on track.
“Colleges have a responsibility to help survivors of sexual violence cope with the trauma of an assault,” Booker said in the release. “It’s unfair to make survivors carry this weight. Every institution of higher education should provide the support survivors need.”
The bill builds on Kaine’s previous efforts to address sexual assault and violence through educational programs. In 2015, Kaine and former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MI) introduced the Teach Safe Relationships Act. The act would have expanded health education in public secondary schools to include information about safe relationship behavior, including preventing sexual assault, domestic violence and dating violence. This legislation was developed after meeting with members of One Less — a former student-run organization at the University dedicated to preventing sexual and gender-based violence.
The Teach Safe Relationships Act did not become law as a standalone bill. Instead, provisions of the act were incorporated into the Every Student Succeeds Act — which Congress passed in December 2015. The final law allowed students to use federal Title IV education funds for instruction and training on safe relationship behavior, including efforts to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence and dating violence.
Kaine previously introduced the SUCCESS Act in 2023 as well as the S.O.S. Campus Act in 2024. Both bills were referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee but did not advance beyond the committee stage to become law. In the Senate, a bill is referred to a committee after it is introduced. The committee can review the legislation, hold hearings or take no further action. If a committee advances a bill, it can be considered by the full chamber.
For the S.O.S. Campus Act and SUCCESS Act to become law, the legislation would need to advance out of the committee, pass both the House and Senate in identical form and be signed by the president. If the bills do not advance, they will not become law.
Kaine has also previously emphasized prevention and education as part of addressing campus sexual assault. In a Zoom meeting organized by his office for Virginia press availability Sept. 29, he said educating students is an essential component of addressing sexual assault on college campuses.
“The most important thing we can do with respect to campus sexual assault is educate appropriate behaviors and inappropriate behaviors, and then also educate about resources that are available to you if you are in fact the victim and survivor of campus sexual assault,” Kaine said in the Zoom meeting.
At the time of publication, the bills have been introduced in Congress but have not become law. Both bills were referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where they will need to advance before receiving consideration by the full Senate.
Jaylynn Perez is a third-year College student from Chesapeake, Va., majoring in government and Public Policy and Leadership. She currently serves as a news senior writer and video staffer, after previously serving as senior associate editor for the news desk. She enjoys covering topics such as University governance and local politics.
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