[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 738 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 738

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 14, 2009.
Whereas in recognition of the severity of the crimes associated with domestic 
        violence, sexual assault, and stalking, on September 13, 1994, President 
        Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (hereinafter 
        referred to as ``VAWA'') as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
        Enforcement Act of 1994;
Whereas subsequent reauthorizations of VAWA include the Violence Against Women 
        Act of 2000 (hereinafter referred to as ``VAWA 2000''), signed by 
        President Bill Clinton, and the Violence Against Women Act and 
        Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (hereinafter referred 
        to as ``VAWA 2005''), signed by President George W. Bush;
Whereas VAWA was the first comprehensive legislative package designed to end 
        violence against women;
Whereas the protections and provisions afforded by VAWA were subsequently 
        expanded and improved by VAWA 2000, which created a legal assistance 
        program for victims and expanded the definition of domestic violence 
        crimes to include dating violence and stalking;
Whereas VAWA and interventions funded by that Act have reduced the incidence of 
        domestic violence, have lowered sexual assault rates, and have averted 
        societal costs by reducing the need for emergency and medical responses;
Whereas VAWA has succeeded in bringing communities together to address domestic 
        violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including 
        combined efforts by law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, victim 
        services, and community-based programs to develop long-term plans for 
        addressing such crimes locally and statewide;
Whereas VAWA has provided crucial Federal support to Indian tribes to combat the 
        problems of sexual and domestic violence in Indian country;
Whereas VAWA brings innovative practices to the field by funding demonstration 
        projects and training, and supporting the development of specialized 
        courts and police teams;
Whereas the Sexual Assault Services program, authorized by VAWA 2005, enabled 
        the 1,300 rape crisis centers in the United States to reduce waiting 
        lists, reach out to underserved communities, and provide more 
        comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault;
Whereas VAWA provides a means for many victims of domestic violence who were 
        dependent on their batterers for immigration status to self-petition and 
        obtain legal immigration status on their own, and to access legal 
        services to flee violence and recover from trauma;
Whereas organizations throughout the United States have received grants under 
        VAWA to provide legal assistance to young victims of dating violence;
Whereas VAWA has provided crucial Federal support for efforts by criminal 
        justice officials and victim service providers to hold offenders 
        accountable and to keep stalking victims safe;
Whereas the continued support of VAWA and subsequent Acts combating violence 
        against women is essential to best serve the 3,400,000 individuals in 
        the United States who are stalked each year; and
Whereas September 13, 2009, marked the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the 
        Violence Against Women Act of 1994: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Violence 
        Against Women Act of 1994;
            (2) continues to support the goals and ideals of the Violence 
        Against Women Act of 1994 and its subsequent reauthorization Acts; and
            (3) recognizes the need to continue vigorous enforcement of the 
        provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and similar Acts 
        and programs to deter and prosecute crimes of violence against women.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.