Sen. Lautenberg Reintroduces Bill in Tyler Clementi's Name

Tyler Clementi's family ventured to Washington on Wednesday to express support for legislation a New Jersey senator has drafted bearing his name.

U.S. Senator Frank Launtenberg (D-NJ) is the prime sponsor of a bill he says will prevent the harassment of college students. Clementi, of Ridgewood, committed suicide after his Rutgers roommate, in bed with another man. 

"The Clementis have bravely turned their grief into action, on behalf of their son Tyler and all college students who suffer harassment,” Lautenberg said in a news release. "Bullying on college campuses has damaged too many young adults, and my legislation would require for the first time that colleges take steps to protect students from harassment. It is vitally important that all students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment and I thank the Clementis for having the strength to fight for reform."  

Tyler's parents, Joseph and Jane, as well as his brother James, thanked Lautenberg for his efforts.

"The Senator has stuck by us through difficult times. He called us in the days after we lost Tyler - and has crafted and advocated for - the key legislation that bears Tyler's name and that we know will make a difference in millions of lives to come," they said in a statement. "Today, we were able to work directly with the Senator and bipartisan leaders across Washington on the next steps towards advancing The Tyler Clementi Higher Education and Anti-Harassment Act. We are hopeful with Senator Lautenberg's voice behind it that the bill that is in our son and brother's name will pass in this Congress with strong support." 

The senator reintroduced the "Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act," which would force universities to have anti-harassment policies in place. Funding would be provided to establish or expand existing programs, according to the bill. NJ Democrat Rush Holt introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

The family recently opened The Tyler Clementi Center at Rutgers University, designed to help students transition to college.