[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 438 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 438

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness 
Month and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should raise 
awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating 
                          effects on families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 28, 2004

Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Clinton, 
Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
   Carper, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reid, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Kyl, Mr. 
   Cornyn, Mr. Daschle, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
Cantwell, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness 
Month and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should raise 
awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating 
                          effects on families.

Whereas 2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the Violence 
        Against Women Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322, 108 Stat. 1902);
Whereas since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, communities 
        have made significant progress in reducing domestic violence such that 
        between 1993 and 2001, the incidents of nonfatal domestic violence fell 
        49 percent;
Whereas since created by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the National 
        Domestic Violence Hotline has answered over 1,000,000 calls;
Whereas States have passed over 660 State laws pertaining to domestic violence, 
        stalking, and sexual assault;
Whereas the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has helped make strides toward 
        breaking the cycle of violence, but there remains much work to be done;
Whereas domestic violence affects women, men, and children of all racial, 
        social, religious, ethnic, and economic groups in the United States;
Whereas on average, more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or 
        boyfriends in the United States every day;
Whereas women who have been abused are much more likely to suffer from chronic 
        pain, diabetes, depression, unintended pregnancies, substance abuse, and 
        sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS;
Whereas only about 10 percent of primary care physicians routinely screen for 
        domestic violence during new patient visits, and 9 percent routinely 
        screen during periodic checkups;
Whereas each year, about 324,000 pregnant women in the United States are 
        battered by the men in their lives, leading to pregnancy complications, 
        including low weight gain, anemia, infections, and first and second 
        trimester bleeding;
Whereas every 2 minutes, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted;
Whereas almost 25 percent of women surveyed had been raped or physically 
        assaulted by a spouse or boyfriend at some point in their lives;
Whereas in 2002 alone, 250,000 women and girls older than the age of 12 were 
        raped or sexually assaulted;
Whereas 1 out of every 12 women has been stalked in her lifetime;
Whereas some cultural norms, economics, language barriers, and limited access to 
        legal services and information may make some immigrant women 
        particularly vulnerable to abuse;
Whereas 1 in 5 adolescent girls in the United States becomes a victim of 
        physical or sexual abuse, or both, in a dating relationship;
Whereas 40 percent of girls ages 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who 
        has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend;
Whereas annually, approximately 8,800,000 children in the United States witness 
        domestic violence;
Whereas witnessing violence is a risk factor for having long-term physical and 
        mental health problems (including substance abuse), being a victim of 
        abuse, and becoming a perpetrator of abuse;
Whereas a boy who witnesses his father's domestic violence is 10 times more 
        likely to engage in domestic violence than a boy from a nonviolent home;
Whereas the cost of domestic violence, including rape, physical assault, and 
        stalking, exceeds $5,800,000,000 each year, of which $4,100,000,000 is 
        spent on direct medical and mental health care services;
Whereas 44 percent of the Nation's mayors identified domestic violence as a 
        primary cause of homelessness;
Whereas 25 to 50 percent of abused women reported they lost a job due, in part, 
        to domestic violence;
Whereas there is a need to increase the public awareness about, and 
        understanding of, domestic violence and the needs of battered women and 
        their children;
Whereas the month of October 2004 has been recognized as National Domestic 
        Violence Awareness Month, a month for activities furthering awareness of 
        domestic violence; and
Whereas the dedication and successes of those working tirelessly to end domestic 
        violence and the strength of the survivors of domestic violence should 
        be recognized: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Domestic 
        Violence Awareness Month; and
            (2) expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should 
        continue to raise awareness of domestic violence in the United 
        States and its devastating impact on families.
                                 <all>