III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 566 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness 

Month, commending 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 victims 

of domestic violence, and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support efforts to end domestic violence and 

hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Ms. AYOTTE, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, commending 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 victims of domestic violence, and expressing the 

sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to 

support efforts to end domestic violence and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable. 

Whereas domestic violence victim advocates, domestic violence 

service providers, domestic violence first responders, and 

other individuals in the United States observe the month 


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of October, 2016, as ‘‘National Domestic Violence Awareness Month’’ in order to increase awareness in the United 

States about the issue of domestic violence; 

Whereas it is estimated that each year approximately 

12,673,000 individuals in the United States are victims 

of intimate partner violence, including— 

(1) physical violence; 

(2) rape; or 

(3) stalking; 

Whereas more than 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; 

Whereas, on average, 3 women are killed by a current or 

former intimate partner every day in the United States, 

according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics; 

Whereas personal safety and economic security are often inextricably linked for victims of domestic violence, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence; 

Whereas 1 in 11 women and 1 in 21 men who have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an 

intimate partner missed work or school as a result of the 

abuse; 

Whereas the National Domestic Violence Counts Census 

found that during 1 day during September 2015, more 

than 71,828 victims of domestic violence received services, but 12,197 requests for services went unmet due to 

a lack of funding and resources; 

Whereas domestic violence affects women, men, and children 

of every age and background, but women— 

(1) experience more domestic violence than men; and 


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(2) are significantly more likely than men to be injured during an assault by an intimate partner; 

Whereas women aged 18 to 34 typically experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence, according to the 

Bureau of Justice Statistics; 

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 research shows that households in which children 

are abused or neglected are likely to have a higher rate 

of intimate partner violence; 

Whereas millions of children are exposed to domestic violence 

each year; 

Whereas victims of domestic violence experience immediate 

and long-term negative outcomes, including detrimental 

effects on mental and physical health; 

Whereas crisis hotlines serving domestic violence operate 24 

hours per day, 365 days per year, and offer important— 

(1) crisis intervention; 

(2) support; 

(3) information; and 

(4) 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, serve— 

(1) thousands of adults and children each day; and 

(2) at least 1,000,000 adults and children each year; 


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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 disturbance calls; 

Whereas Congress first demonstrated a significant commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence through 

the landmark enactment of the 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 (42 

U.S.C. 13925 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; and 

Whereas individuals and organizations that are dedicated to 

preventing and ending domestic violence should be recognized: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 

3 ‘‘National Domestic Violence Awareness Month’’; 

4 and 

5 (2) it is the sense of the Senate that Congress 

6 should— 


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1 (A) continue to raise awareness of domes2 tic violence in the United States and the cor3 responding devastating effects of domestic vio4 lence on survivors, families, and communities; 

5 and 

6 (B) pledge continued support for programs 

7 designed— 

8 (i) to assist survivors; 

9 (ii) to hold perpetrators accountable; 

10 and 

11 (iii) to bring an end to domestic vio12 lence. 

Æ 


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