Representatives Thompson, McBath and Senators Klobuchar, Cassidy Introduce National Hazing Awareness Week Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C.— This week, Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Lucy McBath (D-GA) are leading a resolution to recognize September 22-26, 2025, as “National Hazing Awareness Week.” The resolution recognizes the hundreds of students who have died or suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of collegiate hazing and promotes efforts to prevent hazing. A companion resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA).

In December, the bipartisan bill to stop campus hazing led by McBath, Klobuchar, and Cassidy was signed into law. H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act combats hazing and dangerous practices towards students on college campuses by ensuring transparency and preventative action.

The law includes many anti-hazing provisions long championed by Rep. Thompson and Evelyn and Jim Piazza, whose son, Tim Piazza, tragically passed away in February 2017 at Penn State as a direct result of a hazing ritual at his fraternity. Today, September 25, would have been Tim's 28th birthday.

The Piazza's advocacy led to the establishment of the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State, whose research helped shape the Stop Campus Hazing Act and led to the enactment of some of the strongest anti-hazing laws anywhere in the country in Pennsylvania.

“Hazing is simply not an acceptable behavior," Rep. Thompson said. "It can lead to great bodily harm, even death, leaving families struggling with the loss of their loved one, changing the trajectory of their lives forever. No family should ever have to experience the loss of a child due to hazing. I am proud to introduce this resolution with Congresswoman McBath to bring awareness, accountability, and transparency to help protect students nationwide from hazing.” 

“I know what it's like to lose a loved one to violence, and no parent should ever have to bury their child," Rep. McBath said. "I have been honored to work with families and advocates to pass legislation to end campus hazing. I’m glad to lead efforts once again to spread awareness about the pain of these incidents. I thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to protecting our students.”

“When parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends," Sen. Klobuchar said. "Unfortunately, too many are also exposed to hazing, a dangerous—and at times deadly—problem. With this resolution, we honor the students who have died or been severely injured due to hazing and promote preventive efforts, at the same time that improve hazing reporting and prevention on college campuses with our bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act."

“Hazing is unequivocally wrong. It causes physical and emotional damage to students who simply want to be accepted,” Dr. Cassidy said. “Thanks to the tireless work of the Gruver family and other advocates, we passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act last Congress to increase accountability and protect students from harm. With this new law, we ensure hazing is never ignored.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.