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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Jim Costa. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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July 14, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. JIM COSTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life and legacy of Connie Clery, a courageous advocate for campus safety, victims' rights, and public accountability, who passed away on June 23, 2026, at the age of 95.
others with compassion, resilience, and determination. While she will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she is equally remembered as a national leader whose advocacy reshaped how institutions of higher education respond to campus crime and student safety.
loss of her daughter, Jeanne Clery, who was tragically murdered in her residence hall at Lehigh University in 1986. Rather than allowing grief to define her family, Connie transformed this unimaginable loss into action. Alongside her husband, Howard Clery, she dedicated herself to ensuring that no other family would endure the same preventable tragedy.
Together, the Clery family founded Security on Campus Inc., now known as the Clery Center, an organization committed to promoting safer college campuses through education, prevention, and advocacy. Under Connie's leadership, the organization became a national voice for transparency, empowering students and families with information while encouraging colleges and universities to prioritize campus safety.
Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, known as the Clery Act. This landmark federal law requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to publicly disclose campus crime statistics and issue timely warnings about threats to campus communities. This Act fundamentally changed the safety and transparency of higher education, ensuring safety for millions of students.
victims' rights and institutional accountability. Alongside her husband Howard, she helped advance more than 30 state and federal laws designed to improve campus safety and strengthen victims' rights. Even after stepping down from leading the organization she co-founded, Connie remained deeply engaged as Chairwoman Emerita of the Clery Center, continuing to mentor advocates and inspire institutions committed to creating safer learning environments. Her actions and courage continue to fuel a national movement that has protected countless lives and families.
Above all, Connie was a devoted wife to Howard Clery, Jr. For 51 years, a loving mother to Howard, III, Benjamin, and Jeanne, and a proud grandmother and friend. While her work became known across the Nation, her family remained at the heart of everything she did, and Connie's memory continued to inspire her life's mission.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Connie Clery for her extraordinary service to students and the countless lives that will never know the danger she worked so tirelessly to prevent. May her legacy continue to inspire others to serve with integrity, compassion, and purpose.