[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 46 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 46

      Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by 
  establishing January 2009 as ``National Stalking Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2009

Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself, Mr. Costa, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mrs. 
 Maloney, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. 
Marchant) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by 
  establishing January 2009 as ``National Stalking Awareness Month''.

Whereas an estimated 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the 
        United States and, in the majority of such cases, the person is stalked 
        by someone who is not a stranger;
Whereas 81 percent of women, who are stalked by an intimate partner, are also 
        physically assaulted by that partner, and 76 percent of women, who are 
        killed by an intimate partner, were also stalked by that intimate 
        partner;
Whereas 74.2 percent of stalking victims reported that the stalking partner 
        interfered with their employment, 26 percent of stalking victims lose 
        time from work as a result of their victimization, and 7 percent never 
        return to work;
Whereas stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect 
        themselves, such as relocating, changing their addresses, changing their 
        identities, changing jobs, and obtaining protection orders;
Whereas stalking is a crime that cuts across race, culture, gender, age, sexual 
        orientation, physical and mental ability, and economic status;
Whereas stalking is a crime under Federal law and under the laws of all 50 
        States and the District of Columbia;
Whereas rapid advancements in technology have made cyber-surveillance the new 
        frontier in stalking;
Whereas there are national organizations, local victim service organizations, 
        prosecutors' offices, and police departments that stand ready to assist 
        stalking victims and who are working diligently to craft competent, 
        thorough, and innovative responses to stalking;
Whereas there is a need to enhance the criminal justice system's response to 
        stalking and stalking victims, including aggressive investigation and 
        prosecution; and
Whereas the House of Representatives urges the establishment of January 2009 as 
        National Stalking Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) National Stalking Awareness Month provides an 
                opportunity to educate the people of the United States 
                about stalking;
                    (B) all Americans should applaud the efforts of the 
                many victim service providers, police, prosecutors, 
                national and community organizations, and private 
                sector supporters for their efforts in promoting 
                awareness about stalking; and
                    (C) policymakers, criminal justice officials, 
                victim service and human service agencies, nonprofits, 
                and others should recognize the need to increase 
                awareness of stalking and the availability of services 
                for stalking victims; and
            (2) the House of Representatives urges national and 
        community organizations, businesses in the private sector, and 
        the media to promote awareness of the crime of stalking through 
        National Stalking Awareness Month.
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