Gillibrand Seeks Funds to Battle Campus Sexual Assaults

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is among 10 senators seeking new federal funding to battle campus sexual assaults.

Gillibrand and Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri released a bipartisan letter Friday to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. They are asking for money to investigate and enforce sexual assault laws at colleges and universities.

Gillibrand cited statistics that showed college campuses reported nearly 5,000 forcible sex offenses in 2012. She says that means college women have a higher risk for sexual assault than their non-college peers.