Congressman Meadows and his far-right colleagues are asking President-elect Trump to remove Department of Education rules that protect victims of rape on campus.

Meadows claims the incidence of campus rape is “greatly overstated” and that the current rules deny due process to the “often-innocent accused.” Both of those statements couldn’t be further from the truth. 

About 25% of women are raped during their college career, and 2/3rds of rape cases go unreported. Moreover, only 2% of rape claims are proven false.  

Under President Obama, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act was signed into law, giving victims of sexual assault on campus new protections. Unfortunately, given Congressman Meadow’s comments, and President-elect Trump’s own history of sexual assault, these critical gains are in jeopardy now.

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SAVE Act) was added to the Violence Against Women Act and signed into law by President Obama in 2013. It gives victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking on campus a new ability to appeal an outcome. Schools must also inform victims of their rights and options, and tell them where to find legal help

The SAVE Act gives extra protection to rape and assault victims at all Title IV Colleges and Universities in the US. It also mandates that universities and colleges improve their practices with regard to how they handle rape allegations and investigations. Another provision of the SAVE act requires colleges to give all students information about consent, domestic violence and stalking.