Reps. Miller, McCarthy Statement on Anniversary of Virginia Tech Tragedy

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), the chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, issued the following statement on the anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, classmates and colleagues of the young men and women who were killed or wounded in this senseless tragedy one year ago today. While it is impossible to imagine the pain and grief they are feeling on this difficult day, we join them in remembering and honoring their loved ones.

“Nothing is more important than keeping our nation’s young people safe. On behalf of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech and their families, we must do what we can to help colleges and universities prevent future tragedies and to help families and communities recover in the wake of such tragedies.”

Miller and McCarthy are the sponsors of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which includes provisions to strengthen college campus safety and help colleges and universities prepare for and recover from emergencies and natural disasters. That bill, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137), was passed by the House in February and is now being reconciled with a similar version of legislation that was passed by the Senate. Family members of the Virginia Tech victims have urged Congress to enact these provisions; to view their letter of support, click here.

In addition, McCarthy has introduced legislation, the Virginia Tech Victims Campus Emergency Response Policy and Notification Act (H.R. 5735), to boost safety on college campuses by creating uniform standards for the reporting of emergencies on campuses. The bill, which is also strongly supported by many of the families of the Virginia Tech victims, would require colleges and universities to warn students within 30 minutes after campus or local law enforcement officials confirm an emergency on campus. For more information on that legislation, click here.

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