(Keene, NH) – This morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined students, advocates, educators, care providers, and law enforcement personnel at Keene High School for a panel discussion on preventing sexual violence. The event follows last month’s launch of Congresswoman Kuster’s Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that over one in three women and one in ten men in New Hampshire experience sexual violence during their lifetime.

“Sexual violence is an issue that cuts across party lines and impacts women and men of all ages from every single district in this country,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “By the time young adults get to college, they already have set notions and ideas about this issue. We need to be having discussions and teaching young people about consent and healthy relationships. I thank Keene High School for hosting us today, and I look forward to working with survivors, advocates and my colleagues in Congress to help grow this conversation throughout the country. Together, we can ensure no woman or man has to endure sexual violence.”

Congresswoman Kuster was joined in the discussion by Forrest Seymour, coordinator of sexual violence prevention at Keene State College, Michele Gates and Joe Langione, Keene High School counselors, Kevin Ritter, a Keene High School health instructor, Harriet Davenport, a Keene High School health office nurse, Officer Mike O’Donnell, Keene High School’s Student Resource Officer from the Keene Police Department, Jen Ramey, a Keene Police Department detective, and Jennifer Tveter, the Education and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention.

“Keene High School is honored to have Congresswoman Kuster bring attention to the important topic of preventing sexual violence,” said Rachael Summe-Leonard, Assistant Principal at Keene High School. “Collectively, this event and effort will help our students and our community.  I would like to thank the panel members and the students for participating in this very important discussion.” 

Congresswoman Kuster launched the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence last month with her colleagues, Representatives Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and David Joyce (OH-14). The Task Force will focus on K-12 education, college campus safety, the rape kit backlog, military sexual trauma, improved data and collection, online harassment, and law enforcement training. Throughout the rest of the 115th Congress, the Task Force will be holding hearings on its areas of focus, developing and releasing a legislative agenda, and hosting educational briefings for staff and Members to raise awareness about the primary policy issues related to sexual violence. 

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