Pocan, Murray, Baldwin Renew Push to Pass Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to Address Campus Bullying and Discrimination

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) reintroduced their Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 to help prevent bullying and harassment at colleges and universities around the country. The bill would require colleges and universities receiving federal funds to establish anti-harassment policies to prohibit harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion, and it would require schools to recognize cyberbullying as a form of harassment.

September 22nd marks the anniversary of the death of Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University, who tragically lost his life to suicide in 2010 after his roommate and another student invaded his privacy and harassed him over his sexual orientation. Senator Murray has long led the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, introducing it over many successive Congresses.

"No one should be bullied or harassed simply because of who they are or who they love," said Representative Pocan. "It's been 15 years since we lost Tyler, and today we honor his life by reintroducing the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to ensure that every student can learn in peace, free from harmful harassment and discrimination just for being themselves."

"Every student deserves to feel safe at school, end of story-and no one should ever be harassed for who they are or who they love. But too many students on college campuses today still face bullying and persistent harassment that can stop them from reaching their full potential. Right now, federal law doesn't require schools to adopt comprehensive anti-harassment policies, and that needs to change," said Senator Murray. "Our legislation will help make sure every student can pursue a higher education, free from bullying and discrimination-and that schools have the resources they need to prevent harassment. I'm proud to honor Tyler Clementi's life by renewing our bicameral push to pass this critical legislation."

"Every student deserves the freedom to be safe at school, regardless of who they are," said Senator Baldwin. "We need to honor Tyler's life and legacy and take this step to prevent other young people from suffering the same fate. No young person should have to deal with discrimination, harassment, or bullying on campuses, and our bill will help make that a reality."

Students across the country continue to face widespread bullying and harassment on college campuses, and studies have consistently found that LGBTQ+ students are more likely to experience harassment in higher education than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. A report published in 2022 found that one-third of LGBTQ+ studentsat four-year colleges were bullied, harassed, or assaulted, and 19% of their non-LGBTQ+ peers were similarly mistreated. This widespread harassment has detrimental effects on students' well-being and educational opportunities. The same 2022 report found that 35% of LGBTQ+ students said their mental health was not good all or most of the time they were in college. According to the Trevor Project's 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, LGBTQ+ youth continue to experience a significantly higher risk of suicide-with 39 percentof LGBTQ youth seriously considering attempting suicide in 2024.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act would help protect students from campus bullying and harassment and address this widespread issue by:

• Requiring colleges and universities that receive federal funds to adopt anti-harassment policies, which includes harassment that occurs over electronic communication or is based on a student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, and a sex stereotype), disability, or religion.
• Requiring schools to distribute their anti-harassment policy to all students and employees, including prospective students and employees, upon request.
• Requiring schools to recognize cyberbullying as a form of harassment; and
• Creating a competitive grant program to help colleges and universities start or expand programs to prevent harassment and provide counseling services to students who have experienced harassment.

"The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act is a much needed piece of legislation to end online and offline bullying, harassment, and intimidation at colleges and universities. We are grateful to Congressperson Pocan, and Senators Murray and Baldwin for their continued leadership in championing the care and safety of all our youths," said Jane Clementi, she/her/hers, CEO and Co-Founder of the Tyler Clementi Foundation and Tyler's mom. "Bullying and harassment is still a very real problem, and we fully support this bill. Every student deserves a positive educational experience in a safe environment free of harassment, bullying or humiliation where they can learn, study and thrive regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion; and every parent's mind should be at peace that their children will be protected and free of harm while in the school's care."

"All LGBTQI+ college students deserve the right to learn in a safe and supportive environment," said Shiwali Patel, senior director of education justice at the National Women's Law Center. "At a time when attacks on the community are rising and the Trump administration is weakening civil rights protections, it is more critical than ever to enact policies that explicitly prohibit all forms of harassment at colleges. We are grateful to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for reintroducing the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which is a needed step toward ensuring all students can learn free from fear and discrimination."

"Harassment and bullying in any form can have detrimental impacts on the lives of young people. More than ever, our youth and young adults require support and protection against all forms of harassment, bullying, and hatred," said Allen Morris, Director of Policy at the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund. "The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is honored to support the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which aims to combat harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. With the rise in suicide rates and the fear so many parents hold when our children are away learning, there's no time like the present for action. We are proud of Senator Murray for valuing Tyler's life and championing this meaningful legislation. Tyler's untimely passing underscores the need for accountability and oversight. We urge bipartisan support for protecting students by passing legislation that creates measures to reduce harm, build trust, and ensure a moral imperative of dignity for current and future generations."

21 Senators joined Senators Murray and Baldwin in introducing the legislation today, including: Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Duckworth, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Hassan, Hirono, Kaine, Klobuchar, Lujan, Markey, Merkley, Padilla, Sanders, Schatz, Shaheen, Smith, Van Hollen, Warren, Whitehouse, Wyden.

70 Representatives joined Representative Pocan in introducing the legislation today: Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Becca Balint (D-VT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Henry "Hank" Hankson, Jr. (D-GA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Summer Lee (D-PA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025is endorsed by: the Tyler Clementi Foundation, the National Women's Law Center, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, GLSEN, ADL, AFSP, the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, and the American College Health Association.

A one-pager on the legislation is available HERE.

Legislative text is available HERE.