[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 1, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 320--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, COMMENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM
ADVOCATES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, CRISIS HOTLINE
STAFF, AND FIRST RESPONDERS SERVING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR
THEIR COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT CONGRESS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT EFFORTS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROVIDE SAFETY FOR VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOLD PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ACCOUNTABLE
Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Cornyn, and Ms.
Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 320
Whereas, according to the National Intimate Partner and
Sexual Violence Survey--
(1) up to 12,000,000 individuals in the United States
report experiencing intimate partner violence, including
physical violence, rape, or stalking; and
(2) approximately 1 in 5 women in the United States and up
to 1 in 7 men in the United States have experienced severe
physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in
their lifetimes;
Whereas, on average, 3 women in the United States are
killed each day by a current or former intimate partner,
according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics;
Whereas domestic violence can affect anyone, but women aged
18 to 34 typically experience the highest rates of intimate
partner violence;
Whereas most female victims of intimate partner violence
have been victimized by the same offender previously;
Whereas domestic violence is cited as a significant factor
in homelessness among families;
Whereas millions of children are exposed to domestic
violence each year;
Whereas research shows that boys who are exposed to
domestic violence in their households are more likely to
become perpetrators of intimate partner violence;
Whereas victims of domestic violence experience immediate
and long-term negative outcomes, including detrimental
effects on mental and physical health;
Whereas victims of domestic violence may lose several days
of paid work each year and may lose their jobs due to reasons
stemming from domestic violence;
Whereas crisis hotlines serving domestic violence victims
operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and offer
important crisis intervention services, support services,
information, and referrals for victims;
Whereas staff and volunteers of domestic violence shelters
and programs in the United States, in cooperation with 56
State and territorial coalitions against domestic violence,
serve--
(1) thousands of adults and children each day; and
(2) 1,000,000 adults and children each year;
Whereas, according to a 2016 survey conducted by the
National Network to End Domestic Violence, 72,959 domestic
violence victims were served by domestic violence shelters
and programs around the United States in a single day;
Whereas law enforcement officers in the United States put
their lives at risk each day by responding to incidents of
domestic violence, which can be among the most volatile and
deadly calls;
Whereas Congress first demonstrated a significant
commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence with
the enactment of the landmark Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.);
Whereas Congress has remained committed to protecting
survivors of all forms of domestic violence and sexual abuse
by making Federal funding available to support the activities
that are authorized under--
(1) the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42
U.S.C. 10401 et seq.); and
(2) the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291
et seq.);
Whereas there is a need to continue to support programs and
activities aimed at domestic violence intervention and
domestic violence prevention in the United States; and
Whereas individuals and organizations that are dedicated to
preventing and ending domestic violence should be recognized:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of ``National
Domestic Violence Awareness Month''; and
(2) it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should--
(A) continue to raise awareness of domestic violence in the
United States and the corresponding devastating effects of
domestic violence on survivors, families, and communities;
and
(B) pledge continued support for programs designed--
(i) to assist survivors;
(ii) to hold perpetrators accountable; and
(iii) to bring an end to domestic violence.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to remind my colleagues that we
annually commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in
November. This is a time when we're called to increase public awareness
and understanding of domestic violence.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S6972, November 1, 2017, in the second column, the
following appears: . . . annually commemorate is National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month in October . . .
The online Record has been corrected to read: . . . annually
commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in
November.
========================= END NOTE =========================
As noted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, domestic
violence is a crime that thrives when we remain silent. That's why the
Senate today passed the resolution that I recently introduced with
Senator Feinstein to commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness
Month.
As stated in our resolution, Congress should continue to raise
awareness of domestic violence in the United States. We also should
pledge our continued support for programs designed to assist survivors,
hold perpetrators accountable, and bring an end to domestic violence.
Congress has made support to survivors a national priority for over
three decades, through the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act,
the Victims of Crime Act, and other Federal laws. Through the enactment
of laws criminalizing domestic violence at the State and local level,
we've also sent a strong signal to abusers that domestic violence is
not a ``private'' matter.
We've come a long way, but we still have much work to do on this
front. Even now, domestic violence affects millions in the United
States, including women, men, and children of every age and socio-
economic status. About one in five women will at some point in their
lifetime become a victim of this crime, according to the Centers for
Disease Control.
I applaud the many individuals and organizations in Iowa and
elsewhere around the Nation that work around the clock to respond to
victims in crisis. They include the hotline personnel who provide
support 365 days a year. They include the staff and volunteers at
shelters, who provide safe havens for those escaping abuse. They
include the advocates who champion survivors' interests at the State
and Federal levels. Last, but certainly not least, they include the
first responders who compassionately respond to victims in crisis.
We applaud their continued service and we continue to support the
goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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