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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5660 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5660
To establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to
implement patient-centered academic counseling services for student
survivors of sexual assault and other violence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 30, 2026
Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Fetterman, and Mr. Durbin)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to
implement patient-centered academic counseling services for student
survivors of sexual assault and other violence.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Support for Universities and
Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors Act of 2026''
or the ``SUCCESS Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Campus sexual assault remains a pervasive issue on the
campuses of institutions of higher education across the United
States and negatively impacts student survivors' academic
outcomes.
(2) Sexual assault is one of the biggest risk factors for
developing post-traumatic stress disorder, which is associated
with decreased neurocognitive functioning that makes learning
and retaining information difficult.
(3) Individuals impacted by trauma can often experience
residual effects such as substance use disorders, suicidal
ideation, personality disorders, depression, and anxiety, as
well as other possible mental health challenges that can
significantly impact academic performance or success and
overall well-being.
(4) Studies have shown that student survivors are more
likely to have lower grade point averages, have difficulty with
self-regulated learning, and are ultimately more likely to drop
out of their institution of higher education.
(5) Considering the relationship between sexual assault and
negative academic outcomes, institutions of higher education
should provide these students not only with mental health
services, but also with targeted academic support to counter
their increased risk for negative academic outcomes.
(6) Patient-centered academic counseling and tutoring
programs can be powerful tools to better support student
survivors, improve their higher education retention rates, and
ultimately support their educational success.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC COUNSELING SERVICES
FOR STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER
VIOLENCE.
Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161a et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART BB--GRANT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC COUNSELING
SERVICES FOR STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER VIOLENCE
``SEC. 898A. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC COUNSELING
SERVICES FOR STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
OTHER VIOLENCE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means an institution of higher education as
defined in section 101(a).
``(2) Patient-centered.--The term `patient-centered', when
used with respect to services provided to student survivors of
sexual assault or other violence, means--
``(A) recognizing the widespread emotional,
behavioral, developmental, and legal impact of trauma
and understanding potential paths for recovery;
``(B) recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma
in individuals, families, and staff;
``(C) integrating the knowledge about trauma into
policies, procedures, and practices; and
``(D) actively resisting re-traumatizing by
avoiding creating environments that inadvertently
remind survivors of their traumatic experiences and
cause them to experience psychological and biological
stress.
``(3) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' has the
meaning given the term in section 485(f)(6)(A).
``(b) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out
this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible institutions to enable the
eligible institutions to implement patient-centered academic
counseling services and other services for student survivors of
sexual assault and other violence.
``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall
be for a term of 5 years.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible institution desiring a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include--
``(A) a description of how the eligible institution
will inform students enrolled in the institution of the
patient-centered academic counseling services for
student survivors of sexual assault and other violence;
``(B) a description of how the eligible institution
will provide training for faculty and staff to support
and connect student survivors of sexual assault and
other violence with patient-centered care; and
``(C) a description of the protocols the eligible
institution will follow for coordinating patient-
centered academic counseling and tutoring programs for
survivors.
``(d) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to--
``(1) institutions of higher education with a history of
violations of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;
``(2) community colleges (defined as `junior or community
colleges' under section 502(a)(6)); and
``(3) minority-serving institutions (defined as
institutions eligible under section 371(a)), including
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal
Colleges and Universities.
``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution receiving a grant
under this section shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the
following:
``(1) Providing higher education re-entry assistance for
student survivors of sexual assault and other violence who had
to take leaves of absence or withdraw from the eligible
institution.
``(2) Increasing training for faculty and administrators on
patient-centered care, on recognizing signs of trauma, and on
connecting survivors of sexual assault and other violence to
appropriate support services.
``(3) Providing professional development focused on
patient-centered practices for academic advisors and academic
counselors.
``(4) Providing academic accommodation for students
experiencing trauma, such as patient-centered training for
tutors or the establishment of a confidential tutoring program
specifically designed to assist student survivors of sexual
assault and other violence.
``(5) Increasing mental health services for student
survivors of sexual assault and other violence.
``(6) Creating or enhancing a fund for survivors of sexual
assault and other violence to be used for wrap-around services.
``(f) Reports.--
``(1) Eligible institution reports.--
``(A) In general.--At the end of the grant period,
each eligible institution receiving a grant under this
section shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a
report on the program carried out under the grant.
``(B) Contents.--The report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i)(I) the kinds of accommodations the
student survivors who reported sexual assault
or instances of other violence during the
period described in subparagraph (A) requested;
and
``(II) the accommodations that such
students were given;
``(ii) the graduation and re-enrollment
rates of student survivors of sexual assault
and other violence who were enrolled in the
eligible institution during the grant period;
and
``(iii) such other information as the
Secretary may require.
``(2) Secretary report.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than one year after
the grant program has concluded, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the authorizing committees regarding
the grant program carried out under this section.
``(B) Contents.--The report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include the graduation and re-
enrollment rates of student survivors of sexual assault
and other violence who were enrolled in the eligible
institutions during the grant period, in order to
determine the effectiveness of the grant program.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2027 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
SEC. 4. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, or
any application of such provision or amendment to any person or
circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the
provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and the
application of the provision or amendment to any other person or
circumstance, shall not be affected.
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