[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9803 of October 9, 2018

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2018

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

This Nation--founded on principles of liberty and justice--has no
tolerance for domestic violence. Personal relationships should be a
source of comfort and support--a solid foundation for each person's
empowerment and achievement in his or her daily life. Domestic violence
dissolves that foundation, affecting millions of women and men every
year. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we reassert our
commitment to eradicating this devastating crime so that homes are
places of refuge and love--not of fear or violence.
Horrific and criminal acts of domestic violence are unfortunately common
in all areas of the world. While people of every race, sex, age, and
socioeconomic status have suffered at the hands of abusers, the vast
majority of domestic violence is perpetrated against women. Each of us
has a moral obligation to speak up for those who suffer from physical,
sexual, and emotional abuse. We pledge to advocate on behalf of those
who have been assaulted at home, and to make every effort to prevent
domestic violence from happening in the first place. We acknowledge the
hard work of the many advocates, clergy, service providers, healthcare
providers, educators, law enforcement officers, family members, and
friends who assist and comfort those who have suffered physical or
emotional trauma at the hands of an abuser.
My Administration, in partnership with State, local, and tribal
governments as well as public and private organizations, is working to
ensure that offenders are prosecuted and survivors get the support they
need to live lives free from fear, torment, and violence. My fiscal year
2019 budget proposal includes a $5.5 million increase in funding for
programs administered by the Department of Justice's Office on Violence
Against Women, which would bring total funding to approximately $500
million. This office coordinates the efforts of diverse organizations to
prevent and respond to abuse, and has awarded more than $7 billion in
grants and cooperative agreements to State, local, and tribal
governments, as well as private organizations since its inception. It
also funds law enforcement efforts that hold domestic violence offenders
accountable for their crimes. Each year, these officers respond to more
than 150,000 calls for service, investigate more than 150,000 cases, and
refer more than 70,000 cases to prosecutors.
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services is supporting
initiatives to train healthcare providers to assist those who have
endured domestic violence and implement initiatives that prevent
domestic violence in the first place. Through the Department's Project
Catalyst, clinics are checking patients for signs of domestic violence
and connecting people in need to local service providers. The Centers

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for Disease Control and Prevention's DELTA IMPACT program is also
providing funding to State health departments to implement community and
societal-level strategies to reduce the incidence of domestic violence
in our homes and communities.
This month, we recognize that, while our Nation has made strides in
preventing domestic violence from first occurring and also prosecuting
perpetrators who commit these horrible crimes, much work remains to be
done. To ensure the protection of all Americans, especially women and
children, we must strive to end domestic violence--in all its forms--
from our society and help victims recover from abuse. And we must
encourage Americans affected by domestic violence to seek help from
those they trust and to never lose hope in the possibility of building a
better life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2018 as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call upon all Americans to
stand firm in condemning domestic violence and supporting survivors of
these crimes in finding the safety and recovery they need. I also call
upon all Americans to support, recognize, and trust in the efforts of
law enforcement, public health, and social service providers to hold
offenders accountable, protect victims of crime and their communities,
and prevent future violence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
third.
DONALD J. TRUMP