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
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.