[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 422--SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND GOALS OF 2016 
   ``NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK'', WHICH INCLUDE INCREASING 
   PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE RIGHTS, NEEDS, CONCERNS OF, AND SERVICES 
AVAILABLE TO ASSIST VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Toomey, Mr. Sessions, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 422

       Whereas individuals in the United States are the victims of 
     more than 20,000,000 crimes each year;
       Whereas crime can touch the lives of anyone, irrespective 
     of age, race, national origin, religion, or gender;
       Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
     individuals, families, schools, and communities by--
       (1) protecting the rights of crime victims and survivors; 
     and
       (2) ensuring that resources and services are available to 
     help rebuild the lives of the victims and survivors;
       Whereas, as of 2008, the most conservative estimate for the 
     economic cost of violent and property crimes in the United 
     States was $17,000,000,000 per year;
       Whereas that economic cost does not account for the 
     struggle of a crime victim to be made whole or losses that 
     result from being the victim of a crime, including losses of 
     psychological, emotional, and physical well-being;
       Whereas despite impressive accomplishments between 1974 and 
     2016 in increasing the rights of, and services available to, 
     crime victims and survivors and the families of the victims 
     and survivors, many challenges remain to ensure that all 
     crime victims and survivors and the families of the victims 
     and survivors are--
       (1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect;
       (2) offered support and services, regardless of whether the 
     victims and survivors report crimes committed against them; 
     and
       (3) recognized as key participants within the criminal, 
     juvenile, Federal, and tribal justice systems in the United 
     States when the victims and survivors report crimes;
       Whereas crime victims and survivors in the United States 
     and the families of the victims and survivors need and 
     deserve support and assistance to help cope with the often 
     devastating consequences of crime;
       Whereas, during each year beginning in 1984 through 2015, 
     communities across the United States joined Congress and the 
     Department of Justice in commemorating ``National Crime 
     Victims' Rights Week'' to celebrate a shared vision of a 
     comprehensive and collaborative response that identifies and 
     addresses the many needs of crime victims and survivors and 
     the families of the victims and survivors;
       Whereas Congress and the President agree on the need for a 
     renewed commitment to serve all victims and survivors of 
     crime in the 21st century;
       Whereas the theme of 2016 ``National Crime Victims' Rights 
     Week'', celebrated during the week of April 10 through April 
     16, 2016, is ``Serving Victims; Building Trust; Restoring 
     Hope'' and highlights the collaborative and multifaceted 
     effort to provide comprehensive and quality support to 
     survivors;
       Whereas engaging communities in victim assistance is 
     essential to promoting individual and public safety;
       Whereas the United States must empower crime victims and 
     survivors by--
       (1) protecting the legal rights of the victims and 
     survivors; and
       (2) providing the victims and survivors with services to 
     help them in the aftermath of crime; and
       Whereas the people of the United States recognize and 
     appreciate the continued importance of--
       (1) promoting the rights of and services for crime victims 
     and survivors; and
       (2) honoring crime victims and survivors and individuals 
     who provide services for the victims and survivors: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the mission and goals of 2016 ``National Crime 
     Victims' Rights Week'', which include increasing individual 
     and public awareness of--
       (A) the impact of crime on victims and survivors and the 
     families of the victims and survivors;
       (B) the challenges to achieving justice for victims and 
     survivors of crime and the families of the victims and 
     survivors; and
       (C) the many solutions to meet those challenges; and
       (2) recognizes that crime victims and survivors and the 
     families of the victims and survivors should be treated with 
     dignity, fairness, and respect.

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