[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 537--SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE 
  AND COMMENDING THE HOTLINE FOR COUNSELING AND SUPPORTING MORE THAN 
                           1,000,000 CALLERS

   Mr. BIDEN (for himself and Mr. Specter) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 537

       Whereas it is estimated that a sexual assault occurs every 
     2.5 minutes in the United States and more than 200,000 people 
     in the United States each year are victims of sexual assault;
       Whereas 1 of every 6 women and 1 of every 33 men in the 
     United States have been victims of rape or attempted rape, 
     according to the Department of Justice;
       Whereas the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation rank rape second only to murder in the 
     hierarchy of violent crimes;
       Whereas research suggests that sexual assault victims who 
     receive counseling are more likely to report the assault to 
     the police and to participate in the prosecution of the 
     offender;
       Whereas, in June 2006, the National Sexual Assault Hotline 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``Hotline'') helped its 
     1,000,000th caller;
       Whereas the Hotline operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per 
     year, offering important, free, and confidential crisis 
     intervention, support, information, and referrals for victims 
     of sexual assault and their friends and families;
       Whereas the Hotline was created by the Rape, Abuse & Incest 
     National Network (referred to in this preamble as ``RAINN''), 
     a non-profit corporation, the headquarters of which are 
     located in Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas the Hotline answered its first call on July 27, 
     1994, and operated solely with private funds for the first 10 
     years the Hotline was in existence;
       Whereas RAINN continues to operate the Hotline today, in 
     partnership with 1,100 local rape crisis centers in the 50 
     States and the District of Columbia and with over 10,000 
     trained volunteers and staff, and in collaboration with 
     coalitions against sexual assault in each of the 50 States;
       Whereas the Hotline helps an average of 11,000 people each 
     month and in 2005 helped 137,039 women, men, and children 
     across the Nation;
       Whereas the public education and outreach undertaken by 
     RAINN and local rape crisis centers have increased public 
     awareness of sexual violence and contributed to a 58-percent 
     decline in crimes of sexual violence since 1993;
       Whereas the Hotline has experienced a significant increase 
     in call volume as public awareness of sexual violence has 
     grown, with calls to the Hotline increasing by 43 percent 
     since 2003;
       Whereas millions of Americans have learned of the services 
     available through the Hotline, thanks to the public service 
     promotion contributed by every national broadcast television 
     network, a dozen cable networks, and more than 1,000 radio 
     stations, newspapers, and magazines; and
       Whereas the Hotline serves as an outstanding example of a 
     successful partnership between the Federal Government, the 
     private sector, and individuals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the National Sexual Assault Hotline; and
       (2) commends the National Sexual Assault Hotline for 
     counseling and supporting more than 1,000,000 callers.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I speak today to submit a resolution with 
my good friend and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator 
Specter. Our resolution recognizes and commends the National Sexual 
Assault Hotline for counseling and helping more than 1 million callers. 
One of the most telling statistics since passage of the Violence 
Against Women Act in 1994 is the number of individuals reporting rape 
to the authorities. Almost half--42 percent of rape victims are now 
stepping forward and reporting these heinous crimes to the authorities, 
while prior to 2002, only 31 percent reported their attacks. Each 
number represents a brave victim who steps forward and says out loud 
that she has been raped. For years, rape was a crime of shame. Our 
society blamed the victim. Police, lawyers, and judges focused on her 
conduct--what did she wear? where was she walking? was she drinking 
alcohol? Slowly but surely, we are working to change societal attitudes 
about rape and improve our criminal justice system to encourage 
reporting and prosecution of rapes, whether committed by the neighbor 
next door or a stranger in an alley.
  A critical partner in our fight to end sexual assault has been the 
National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and 
Incest National Network. RAINN created this toll-free telephone 
hotline--1-800-656-HOPE--in 1994 and manages it with 1,100 local 
affiliates in 50 States, and the District of Columbia. Victims from 
across the country can telephone the Hotline and receive confidential, 
trained expertise from experienced professionals with the assistance of 
over 10,000 volunteers. In June 2006, the Hotline received its 
millionth call since it answered its first call in 1994. In 2005 alone, 
the Hotline helped 137,039 individuals, an average of 11,420 people a 
month.
  The National Sexual Assault Hotline is truly a national treasure. It 
helps individuals and families recover from a horrendous violation. It 
provides a safe haven for victims to talk about the crime, and offers 
referrals on local psychological and physical help. A call to the 
National Sexual Assault Hotline is often the first step towards justice 
for a victim. Research shows that victims who receive counseling are 
significantly more likely to report the assault, and more likely to 
fully participate in the prosecution. Every 2.5 minutes, another 
American is sexually assaulted. We are fortunate to have the hotline 
there to answer victims' calls for help and healing. The hotline's 
volunteers are doing God's work, and deserve our gratitude. I am proud 
to rise with my good friend from Pennsylvania to introduce a resolution 
marking the hotline's millionth call and commemorating the hotline's 
tremendous work to help America's families and make our streets safer.




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