(Concord, NH) – Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Rivier University its Reduce Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program grant funds. This grant, which Congresswoman Kuster supported through a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, totals more than $298,000, and enables Rivier University to establish a multidisciplinary approach to combat sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on campus.

“This grant announcement is a win for Granite State students, Rivier University, and survivors of sexual violence,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “College campuses play an important role in ending the persistent problem of sexual violence, and the grant awarded to Rivier University today will help the institution establish a comprehensive coordinated approach for addressing challenges while strengthening its existing prevention programs for new and returning students. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this grant will have at Rivier and will continue working with my colleagues in Washington to change the culture around sexual violence in our nation.”

Congresswoman Kuster launched the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence in April with her colleagues, Representatives Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and David Joyce (OH-14). The task force focuses on K-12 education, college campus safety, the sexual assault kit backlog, military sexual trauma, improved data and collection, online harassment, and law enforcement training. Since the announcement of the task force, Congresswoman Kuster has held several roundtable discussions throughout the second district and in Washington, D.C. on combating sexual violence, including a discussion at Rivier University in April.

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