[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today we will vote on an 
important piece of legislation that discusses a problem that persists 
in communities across our country. This bill will show that this 
problem will not go away with wishful thinking and good intentions. 
Something must be done to prevent stalking now. We can not afford to 
wait. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution, do 
their part to make America aware of stalking, and do their utmost to 
prevent it's occurrence.
  Every day, millions of woman and men have their lives disrupted by a 
stalker. While every state and DC has passed laws that make this act 
illegal, stalking still happens far too often. We must do everything we 
can to tell those being stalked that they are not alone and we will 
help them. We must do everything we can to tell those terrorizing their 
fellow man or woman with stalking that you will be caught and 
prosecuted.
  Madam Speaker, stalking has multiple ways it can impact it's victims. 
Stalkers do not just harass and annoy their targets, they also cause 
real financial and psychological harm. 26% of stalking victims have 
lost time working because of their stalkers while a full 7% have been 
so frightened, they have not returned to work at all. Almost 30% have 
sought counseling because of the stalking. Overall, the prevalence of 
insomnia, anxiety, social dysfunction and severe depression is much 
higher among stalking victims.
  These victims feel helpless and will do anything to control their 
lives again. The number of victims who drastically change their lives 
to get away from these individuals is staggering. Through no fault of 
their own, the victims often reach out to law enforcement early 
requesting restraining orders to prevent contact with their tormenters. 
These attempts rarely work and result in about 3 out of every 4 
restraining orders being violated. Victims have gone so far as to move 
from their homes to prevent the stalker from being able to antagonize 
them. One in seven victims has moved in order to maintain their ability 
to live their life or as normally as possible.
  In one out of five cases, the stalker will approach his target with a 
weapon to threaten or harm them. The worst is that in cases where a 
woman is murdered by an ex-intimate partner, nearly 90% of them were 
stalked prior to the homicide. This can not be allowed to go on any 
more. We have the means and the ability to prevent these attacks.
  While technology has aided law enforcement in the ability to target 
stalkers it has also been used by the stalker to target and contact 
victims. One in four victims have reported being stalked online. Every 
day women are stalked and not enough of them are reporting it. Less 
than half report it to law enforcement officers and only 7% contact 
victims groups. As the famous author Michele Archer said, ``It is 
important that people know that stalking is a crime and that they can 
do something about it.'' This advice can help save a lot of lives.
  The biggest misconception about stalking is that it only happens to 
women. While women are the majority of the targets, they are by no 
means the only gender that is stalked. Men and women are both targeted 
and attacked. This legislation will help bring attention to this 
problem that's underreported, undereducated on and overlooked far too 
often.
  All of us, as members of Congress, want to help, and so often we 
disagree on how to accomplish that laudable goal. For once we can agree 
on a problem and can help provide a solution. Today we have that chance 
to make an impact upon the people who live in daily fear. We can say to 
them today they are not alone, we are on their side and we will do 
anything we can to fight for them. We can also say that stalker's days 
are numbered.
  Madam Speaker, I urge that my colleagues to support this resolution.

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