Supporting the designation of the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as "National Hazing Awareness Week".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 1580 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1580

Supporting the designation of the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as ``National Hazing Awareness Week''.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mrs. McBath (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Chu, Mrs. Grijalva, and Ms. Kelly of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

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RESOLUTION

Supporting the designation of the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as ``National Hazing Awareness Week''.

Whereas hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another person regardless of the willingness of that person to participate, that--

(1) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and

(2) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury;

Whereas 55 percent of college students involved in extracurricular clubs, athletic teams, and organizations reported experiencing hazing; Whereas a hazing prevention policy is vital to help shape expectations for safe campus communities where healthy group behaviors, ethical leadership, and feelings of positive well-being and belonging are fostered; Whereas the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law 118-173) was signed into law in December 2024, and amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) to enhance hazing prevention efforts on college campuses by requiring institutions of higher education to include hazing incidents in their annual security reports, provide hazing prevention education, and report findings of responsibility for campus hazing policy violations in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report, thereby ensuring greater transparency and accountability in addressing hazing nationwide; Whereas it is recommended that hazing prevention education is broad and includes students, campus staff, administrators, faculty, alumni, and beyond; Whereas hundreds of students have died as a result of collegiate hazing, including Kristin High on September 9, 2002, Kenitha Saafir on September 9, 2002, Clay Warren on September 21, 2002, Lynn Gordon ``Gordie'' Bailey, Jr., on September 17, 2004, Matthew Carrington on February 2, 2005, Gary Louis DeVercelly, Jr. on March 30, 2007, Brett Griffin on November 8, 2008, Harrison Kowiak on November 18, 2008, Michael Anthony Smallwood Starks on November 21, 2008, Carson Leonard Starkey on December 2, 2008, George Desdunes on February 25, 2011, Robert Darnell Champion on November 19, 2011, Robert Eugene Tipton, Jr., on March 26, 2012, David R. Bogenberger on November 2, 2012, Marvell Edmonson on April 20, 2013, Jauwan M. Holmes on April 20, 2013, Marquise Braham on March 14, 2014, Dalton Debrick on August 24, 2014, Tucker W. Hipps on September 22, 2014, Nolan Michael Burch on November 14, 2014, Timothy J. Piazza on February 4, 2017, Maxwell ``Max'' Raymond Gruver on September 14, 2017, Andrew Coffey on November 3, 2017, Alexander Levi Rainey Beletsis on June 20, 2018, Nicholas ``Nicky'' Antonio Cumberland on October 30, 2018, Collin Wiant on November 12, 2018, Noah Caleb Domingo on January 12, 2019, Bea Castro on March 17, 2019, Justin King on September 14, 2019, Antonio ``Anthony'' Tsialas on October 24, 2019, Samuel ``Sam'' Martinez on November 12, 2019, Adam Jeffrey Oakes on February 27, 2021, Stone Justin Foltz on March 7, 2021, Lofton Hazelwood on October 18, 2021, Phat Anh Nguyen on November 20, 2021, Luke Tyler on January 22, 2023, Joshua Daniel Mardis on February 3, 2023, Sawyer Lee Updike on January 16, 2024, Caleb Wilson on February 27, 2025, Colin Daniel Martinez on January 31, 2026, and Savanna Marie Jones on April 30, 2026; Whereas students have suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of collegiate hazing, including Danny Santulli on October 19, 2021; and Whereas hazing has a lasting, harmful, and deadly impact, and preventing hazing must be prioritized: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) supports the designation of ``National Hazing Awareness Week''; (2) acknowledges hazing prevention is not limited to a single week of awareness but is an ongoing commitment; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Hazing Awareness Week through promoting hazing awareness and prevention. <all>