III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 36 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 2, 2011 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Kohl, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by designating January 2011 as ‘‘National Stalking Awareness Month’’.

Whereas in a 1-year period, an estimated 3,400,000 people in the United States reported being stalked, and 75 percent of victims report that they were stalked by someone they know; 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 of victims reported having been stalked for more than 5 years, and 23 percent of victims reported having been stalked almost every day; Whereas 1 in 4 victims reported that they were aware of email, instant messaging, blogs or bulletin boards, internet sites, or chat rooms being used against them by their stalkers, and 1 in 13 victims reported that stalkers had used electronic devices to monitor them; Whereas stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves, including changing identity, relocating, changing jobs, and obtaining protection orders; Whereas 1 in 7 victims has relocated in an effort to escape a stalker; Whereas approximately 130,000 victims reported having been fired or asked to leave a job because of stalking, and about 1 in 8 employed victims missed work because they feared for their safety or were taking steps to protect themselves, such as seeking a restraining order; Whereas less than half of victims report stalking to police, and only 7 percent of victims contacted a victim service provider, shelter, or hotline; Whereas stalking is a crime under Federal law and under the laws of all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States; Whereas stalking affects victims of every race, age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, and economic status; Whereas national organizations, local victim service organizations, prosecutors’ offices, and police departments stand ready to assist stalking victims and are working diligently to develop effective and innovative responses to stalking; Whereas there is a need to improve the criminal justice system’s response to stalking through more aggressive investigation and prosecution; Whereas there is a need for increased availability of victim services across the country, and such services must include programs tailored to meet the needs of stalking victims; and Whereas the Senate finds that ‘‘National Stalking Awareness Month’’ provides an opportunity to educate the people of the United States about stalking: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates January 2011 as ‘‘National Stalking Awareness Month’’; (2)applauds the efforts of the many stalking victim service providers, police, 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 human service agencies, college campuses and universities, nonprofit organizations, and others 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’’.