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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 537 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 537

   Supporting the National Sexual Assault Hotline and commending the 
   Hotline for counseling and supporting more than 1,000,000 callers.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 20, 2006

    Mr. Biden (for himself and Mr. Specter) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Supporting the National Sexual Assault Hotline and commending the 
   Hotline for counseling and supporting more than 1,000,000 callers.

Whereas it is estimated that a sexual assault occurs every 2.5 minutes in the 
        United States and more than 200,000 people in the United States each 
        year are victims of sexual assault;
Whereas 1 of every 6 women and 1 of every 33 men in the United States have been 
        victims of rape or attempted rape, according to the Department of 
        Justice;
Whereas the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation rank 
        rape second only to murder in the hierarchy of violent crimes;
Whereas research suggests that sexual assault victims who receive counseling are 
        more likely to report the assault to the police and to participate in 
        the prosecution of the offender;
Whereas, in June 2006, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``Hotline'') helped its 1,000,000th caller;
Whereas the Hotline operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, offering 
        important, free, and confidential crisis intervention, support, 
        information, and referrals for victims of sexual assault and their 
        friends and families;
Whereas the Hotline was created by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``RAINN''), a non-profit corporation, 
        the headquarters of which are located in Washington, D.C.;
Whereas the Hotline answered its first call on July 27, 1994, and operated 
        solely with private funds for the first 10 years the Hotline was in 
        existence;
Whereas RAINN continues to operate the Hotline today, in partnership with 1,100 
        local rape crisis centers in the 50 States and the District of Columbia 
        and with over 10,000 trained volunteers and staff, and in collaboration 
        with coalitions against sexual assault in each of the 50 States;
Whereas the Hotline helps an average of 11,000 people each month and in 2005 
        helped 137,039 women, men, and children across the Nation;
Whereas the public education and outreach undertaken by RAINN and local rape 
        crisis centers have increased public awareness of sexual violence and 
        contributed to a 58-percent decline in crimes of sexual violence since 
        1993;
Whereas the Hotline has experienced a significant increase in call volume as 
        public awareness of sexual violence has grown, with calls to the Hotline 
        increasing by 43 percent since 2003;
Whereas millions of Americans have learned of the services available through the 
        Hotline, thanks to the public service promotion contributed by every 
        national broadcast television network, a dozen cable networks, and more 
        than 1,000 radio stations, newspapers, and magazines; and
Whereas the Hotline serves as an outstanding example of a successful partnership 
        between the Federal Government, the private sector, and individuals: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the National Sexual Assault Hotline; and
            (2) commends the National Sexual Assault Hotline for 
        counseling and supporting more than 1,000,000 callers.
                                 <all>
```