[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 181 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 753--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 753

       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 annually, 
     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 who 
     are 18 to 34 years of age typically experience the highest 
     rates of domestic violence;
       Whereas survivors of domestic violence are strong, 
     courageous, and resilient;
       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 research consistently shows that being abused by an 
     intimate partner increases an individual's likelihood of 
     substance use as well as associated harmful consequences;
       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, 
     provide essential services to--
       (1) thousands of adults and children each day; and
       (2) 1,000,000 adults and children each year;
       Whereas more than 160 States, counties, and cities have 
     experienced an increase in reports of domestic violence 
     during the COVID-19 pandemic;
       Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic increases the isolation of 
     survivors of domestic violence and that isolation is being 
     used as a tool by abusers to exert power and coercive 
     control;
       Whereas domestic violence programs and hotlines have seen a 
     substantial increase in contacts since the beginning of the 
     COVID-19 pandemic and are expecting a surge in requests for 
     services when social distancing is no longer necessary;
       Whereas local YWCAs shared that between March 31, 2020 and 
     late summer 2020, as a result of the impact from the COVID-19 
     pandemic--
       (1) 69 percent of respondent YWCAs that operate domestic 
     violence hotlines reported an increase in demand for 
     services; and
       (2) 64 percent of nearly 100 local YWCAs who provide 
     domestic violence services (either emergency shelter or 
     transitional housing) reported an increase in demand for 
     domestic violence shelter;
       Whereas while violence as a lived experience of American 
     Indian and Alaska Native women exists in less pressing times, 
     the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the challenges and 
     barriers to accessing safety by exacerbating already existing 
     issues including--
       (1) lack of safe housing for victims;
       (2) lack of space in shelters for victims to maintain safe 
     social distancing;
       (3) lack of personal protective equipment for staff of 
     tribal shelters and victim services programs;
       (4) limited transportation for victims; and
       (5) lack of access to adequate health care;
       Whereas respondents to a survey of domestic violence 
     programs reported that survivors of domestic violence are 
     facing financial challenges related to COVID-19 and three 
     quarters of those respondents reported that survivors are 
     having trouble accessing food, and more than half of those 
     respondents have reported that survivors cannot pay their 
     bills;
       Whereas medical professionals have reported that survivors 
     of domestic violence are presenting with more severe injuries 
     during the pandemic;
       Whereas domestic violence programs are having to change the 
     way they provide services in response to the COVID-19 
     pandemic;
       Whereas advocates for survivors of domestic violence and 
     survivors face the same challenges with childcare and 
     facilitating online learning that others do;
       Whereas, according to a 2019 survey conducted by the 
     National Network to End Domestic Violence, 77,226 domestic 
     violence victims were served by domestic violence shelters 
     and programs around the United States in a single day;
       Whereas non-citizen victims of domestic violence report 
     heightened concerns with accessing law enforcement and 
     services due to uncertainty arising from changing immigration 
     policies and heightened immigration enforcement;
       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;
       Whereas domestic violence programs provide trauma-informed 
     services to protect the safety, privacy, and confidentiality 
     of survivors of domestic violence; 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--
       (A) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Domestic 
     Violence Awareness Month'';
       (B) commends 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
       (C) recognizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 
     advocates for survivors of domestic violence and survivors; 
     and
       (2) it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should--
       (A) continue to raise awareness of--
       (i) domestic violence in the United States; and
       (ii) the corresponding devastating effects of domestic 
     violence on survivors, families, and communities; and
       (B) pledge continued support for programs designed to--
       (i) assist survivors of domestic violence;
       (ii) hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable; 
     and
       (iii) bring an end to domestic violence.

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