[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 960 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 960

   Expressing support for designation of January 2010 as ``National 
Stalking Awareness Month'' to raise awareness and encourage prevention 
                              of stalking.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 9, 2009

Mr. Poe of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for designation of January 2010 as ``National 
Stalking Awareness Month'' to raise awareness and encourage prevention 
                              of stalking.

Whereas in a 1-year period, an estimated 3,400,000 people in the United States 
        reported being stalked, and 75 percent of victims are 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 11 percent reported having been stalked for more than 5 years and one-
        fourth of victims reported having been stalked almost every day;
Whereas 1 in 4 victims reported that stalkers had used technology, such as e-
        mail or instant messaging, to follow and harass them, and 1 in 13 said 
        stalkers had used electronic devices to intrude on their lives;
Whereas stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect 
        themselves, such as changing jobs, obtaining protection orders, 
        relocating, and changing their identities;
Whereas 1 in 7 victims moved in an effort to escape their stalker;
Whereas approximately 130,000 victims reported having been fired or asked to 
        leave their job because of the stalking, and about 1 in 8 lost time from 
        work because they feared for their safety or were taking steps, such as 
        seeking a restraining order, to protect themselves;
Whereas less than half of victims report stalking to police and only 7 percent 
        contacted a victim service provider, shelter, or hotline;
Whereas stalking is a crime that cuts across race, age, culture, gender, 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, the United States Territories, the District of Columbia, and the 
        Uniform Code of Military Justice;
Whereas there are national organizations, local victim service organizations, 
        prosecutors' offices, and law enforcement agencies 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 increase the availability of victim services across the 
        country tailored to meet the needs of stalking victims;
Whereas, 2010 marks 10 years in which the Stalking Resource Center has increased 
        national awareness of stalking and enhanced local responses to stalking 
        victims through training over 35,000 law enforcement, prosecutors, 
        victim service providers, and other community stakeholders, and provided 
        assistance to jurisdictions working to enhance their stalking laws; and
Whereas January 2010 would be an appropriate month to designate as ``National 
        Stalking Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Stalking 
        Awareness Month'' to educate the people of the United States 
        about stalking;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to applaud 
        the efforts of the many victim service providers, law 
        enforcement, prosecutors, national and community organizations, 
        and private sector supporters for their efforts in promoting 
        awareness about stalking;
            (3) encourages policymakers, criminal justice officials, 
        victim service and social service agencies, colleges and 
        universities, nonprofits, and others to recognize the need to 
        increase awareness of stalking and the availability of services 
        for stalking victims; and
            (4) 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''.
                                 <all>