IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1575 

Expressing support for designating the week of November 4 through 

November 10, 2024, as ‘‘Forensic Nursing Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 

Ms. ROSS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designating the week of November 

4 through November 10, 2024, as ‘‘Forensic Nursing Week’’. 

Whereas forensic nurses are registered or advanced practice 

nurses who— 

(1) have received specialized education and training 

to address the acute and long-term health consequences 

of patients seeking medical care after being impacted by 

violence; and 

(2) have specific expertise in the comprehensive 

medical forensic examination (MFE) and treatment of 

patients who have experienced sexual assault, intimate 

partner violence, child and elder maltreatment, human 

trafficking, and accidental as well as nonaccidental trauma; 


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•HRES 1575 IH 

Whereas forensic nurses are often the first health care professionals to provide medical care to a victim of sexual 

violence and routinely coordinate the resources necessary 

for followup needs, including those involving law enforcement reporting; 

Whereas patients impacted by violence, exploitation, trauma, 

and abuse— 

(1) experience acute and long-term health consequences associated with that victimization; and 

(2) are more likely to experience depression, substance use, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other 

chronic conditions than the general population; 

Whereas early health care intervention immediately following 

acts of violence can lead to better long-term patient outcomes as well as lower overall medical system costs; 

Whereas it is imperative that victims of sexual or intimate 

partner violence are guaranteed, through the Violence 

Against Women Act, access to comprehensive medical forensic examinations, which are specialized health care 

interventions that fully and promptly address the medical 

needs of patients experiencing physical harm; 

Whereas only approximately 25 percent of United States hospitals have Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) on 

staff, demonstrating an emergency need to implement 

new programs authorized by the Violence Against Women 

Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 to increase patient access to SANEs; 

Whereas the Department of Justice Office on Violence 

Against Women has published an updated National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations: 

Adults/Adolescents and a new National Protocol for IntiVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:07 Nov 15, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1575.IH HR1575

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•HRES 1575 IH 

mate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations, 

two critical resources that recognize health care providers’ pivotal role in enhancing public safety and facilitating survivor healing after acts of violence; 

Whereas forensic nurses are essential to America’s response 

to violence because they provide trauma-informed nursing 

care across the lifespan and in diverse practice settings; 

and 

Whereas forensic nursing has been formally recognized as a 

specialty practice area since 1995: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘Forensic Nursing Week’’; 

4 (2) acknowledges the commitment and vital 

5 contributions of forensic nurses to patient treatment 

6 and healing in the aftermath of violence; and 

7 (3) encourages policies and actions to protect 

8 communities from violence and support health care 

9 responses to sexual and physical assault. 

Æ 


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