[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9863-S9864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 438 submitted earlier today by 
Senators Biden, Hatch, Kohl, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 438) supporting the goals and ideals 
     of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing 
     the sense of the Senate that Congress should raise awareness 
     of domestic violence in the

[[Page S9864]]

     United States and its devastating effects on families.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble 
be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
without intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating 
thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 438) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 438

       Whereas 2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the enactment 
     of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-
     322, 108 Stat. 1902);
       Whereas since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act 
     of 1994, communities have made significant progress in 
     reducing domestic violence such that between 1993 and 2001, 
     the incidents of nonfatal domestic violence fell 49 percent;
       Whereas since created by the Violence Against Women Act of 
     1994, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has answered 
     over 1,000,000 calls;
       Whereas States have passed over 660 State laws pertaining 
     to domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault;
       Whereas the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has helped 
     make strides toward breaking the cycle of violence, but there 
     remains much work to be done;
       Whereas domestic violence affects women, men, and children 
     of all racial, social, religious, ethnic, and economic groups 
     in the United States;
       Whereas on average, more than 3 women are murdered by their 
     husbands or boyfriends in the United States every day;
       Whereas women who have been abused are much more likely to 
     suffer from chronic pain, diabetes, depression, unintended 
     pregnancies, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted 
     infections, including HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas only about 10 percent of primary care physicians 
     routinely screen for domestic violence during new patient 
     visits, and 9 percent routinely screen during periodic 
     checkups;
       Whereas each year, about 324,000 pregnant women in the 
     United States are battered by the men in their lives, leading 
     to pregnancy complications, including low weight gain, 
     anemia, infections, and first and second trimester bleeding;
       Whereas every 2 minutes, someone in the United States is 
     sexually assaulted;
       Whereas almost 25 percent of women surveyed had been raped 
     or physically assaulted by a spouse or boyfriend at some 
     point in their lives;
       Whereas in 2002 alone, 250,000 women and girls older than 
     the age of 12 were raped or sexually assaulted;
       Whereas 1 out of every 12 women has been stalked in her 
     lifetime;
       Whereas some cultural norms, economics, language barriers, 
     and limited access to legal services and information may make 
     some immigrant women particularly vulnerable to abuse;
       Whereas 1 in 5 adolescent girls in the United States 
     becomes a victim of physical or sexual abuse, or both, in a 
     dating relationship;
       Whereas 40 percent of girls ages 14 to 17 report knowing 
     someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend;
       Whereas annually, approximately 8,800,000 children in the 
     United States witness domestic violence;
       Whereas witnessing violence is a risk factor for having 
     long-term physical and mental health problems (including 
     substance abuse), being a victim of abuse, and becoming a 
     perpetrator of abuse;
       Whereas a boy who witnesses his father's domestic violence 
     is 10 times more likely to engage in domestic violence than a 
     boy from a nonviolent home;
       Whereas the cost of domestic violence, including rape, 
     physical assault, and stalking, exceeds $5,800,000,000 each 
     year, of which $4,100,000,000 is spent on direct medical and 
     mental health care services;
       Whereas 44 percent of the Nation's mayors identified 
     domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness;
       Whereas 25 to 50 percent of abused women reported they lost 
     a job due, in part, to domestic violence;
       Whereas there is a need to increase the public awareness 
     about, and understanding of, domestic violence and the needs 
     of battered women and their children;
       Whereas the month of October 2004 has been recognized as 
     National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month for 
     activities furthering awareness of domestic violence; and
       Whereas the dedication and successes of those working 
     tirelessly to end domestic violence and the strength of the 
     survivors of domestic violence should be recognized: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Domestic 
     Violence Awareness Month; and
       (2) expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should 
     continue to raise awareness of domestic violence in the 
     United States and its devastating impact on families.

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