[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 353 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 353

    Raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by 
  designating January 2016, as ``National Stalking Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 2, 2016

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Perdue) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by 
  designating January 2016, as ``National Stalking Awareness Month''.

Whereas 15 percent of women in the United States, at some point during their 
        lifetimes, have experienced stalking victimization, during which the 
        women felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them 
        would be harmed or killed;
Whereas, during a 1-year period, an estimated 7,500,000 individuals in the 
        United States reported that they had been victims of stalking, and 75 
        percent of those individuals reported that they had been stalked by 
        someone they knew;
Whereas 11 percent of victims of stalking reported having been stalked for more 
        than 5 years;
Whereas two-thirds of stalkers pursue their victims at least once a week;
Whereas victims of stalking are forced to take drastic measures to protect 
        themselves, including changing their identities, relocating, changing 
        jobs, or obtaining protection orders;
Whereas the prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe 
        depression is much higher among victims of stalking than the general 
        population;
Whereas many victims of stalking do not report stalking to the police or contact 
        a victim service provider, shelter, or hotline;
Whereas stalking is a crime under Federal law and 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, campuses, 
        prosecutor's offices, and police departments stand ready to assist 
        victims of stalking and are working diligently to develop effective and 
        innovative responses to stalking;
Whereas there is a need to improve the response of the criminal justice system 
        to stalking through more aggressive investigation and prosecution;
Whereas there is a need for an increase in the availability of victim services 
        across the United States, and the services must include programs 
        tailored to meet the needs of victims of stalking;
Whereas individuals 18 to 24 years old experience the highest rates of stalking 
        victimization, and rates of stalking among college students exceed rates 
        of stalking among the general population;
Whereas up to 75 percent of women in college who experience behavior relating to 
        stalking experience other forms of victimization, including sexual or 
        physical victimization;
Whereas there is a need for an effective response to stalking on each campus; 
        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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates January 2016, as ``National Stalking 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) applauds the efforts of service providers for victims 
        of stalking, police, prosecutors, national and community 
        organizations, campuses, and private sector supporters to 
        promote awareness of stalking;
            (3) encourages policymakers, criminal justice officials, 
        victim service and human service agencies, institutions of 
        higher education, and nonprofit organizations to increase 
        awareness of stalking and the availability of services for 
        victims of stalking; 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>