[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5363-5364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 144--SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND GOALS OF 2015 
 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK, WHICH INCLUDE INCREASING PUBLIC 
AWARENESS OF THE RIGHTS, NEEDS, AND CONCERNS OF, AND SERVICES AVAILABLE 
     TO ASSIST, VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Wicker, and Mr. Vitter) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 144

       Whereas in 2013, there were more than 6,000,000 victims and 
     survivors of violent crime and nearly 17,000,000 victims and 
     survivors of property crime in the United States;
       Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
     individuals, families, schools, and communities by protecting 
     the rights of crime victims and survivors and ensuring that 
     resources and services are available to help rebuild the 
     lives of the victims and survivors;
       Whereas despite impressive accomplishments between 1974 and 
     2015 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, tribal, and civil 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 between 1984 and 2014, communities 
     across the United States have 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 serving all victims and survivors of 
     crime in the 21st century;
       Whereas the theme of 2015 National Crime Victims' Rights 
     Week, celebrated during the week of April 19 through April 
     25, 2015, is ``Engaging Communities. Empowering Victims.'' 
     and highlights the many challenges that confront crime victim 
     assistance, justice, and public safety;
       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 protecting

[[Page 5364]]

     their legal rights and by providing them with quality, 
     comprehensive 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 2015 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 such 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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