Heidi Alexander: “I ask unanimous consent that a copy of my opening statement at the Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions…”

“I ask unanimous consent that a copy of my opening statement at the Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Reauthorizing HEA: Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Ensuring Student Safety and Rights Mr. ALEXANDER. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will please come to order. Senator Murray and I will each have an opening statement, and then we will introduce the witnesses. After the witnesses' testimony, senators will each have 5 minutes of questions. Today's hearing will focus on how colleges and universities should respond to accusations of sexual assault. This is an important and difficult topic. For that reason, I am glad that Senator Murray and I have been able to agree to a bipartisan hearing and to agree on the witnesses. On these issues, I have the perspective of a father of daughters and sons, of a grandfather, a lawyer, a governor, and also a former Chairman of the Board and president of a large public university. As a university administrator, my first priority always was the safety of students. My goal was to quickly and compassionately respond to victims of alleged assaults, offering counseling and other support, including assisting the victim if he or she wished to report the assault to law enforcement.…”