III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 555 

Recognizing and supporting the advocates, counselors, volunteers, and first 

responders who served survivors on an emergency basis during National 

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 4, 2020 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. PETERS, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. JONES, and Mr. 

TILLIS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

MAY 14, 2020 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and supporting the advocates, counselors, volunteers, and first responders who served survivors on an 

emergency basis during National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. 

Whereas the 19th anniversary of National Sexual Assault 

Awareness and Prevention Month, which took place in 

April 2020, provides the people of the United States with 

an opportunity to reflect on the substantial contributions 

made by the individuals who respond to, and advocate on 

behalf of, survivors of sexual violence; 

Whereas the first rape crisis center, established in San Francisco, California, in 1971, was the natural outgrowth of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

SRES 555 ATS 

years of peer-to-peer support by advocates for women and 

civil rights advocates in communities across the United 

States; 

Whereas, nearly 5 decades later, rape crisis centers across the 

United States continue to be on the front lines in responding to the needs of sexual assault survivors, going 

above and beyond to empower and improve the lives of 

these crime victims during the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies 

Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19); 

Whereas thousands of volunteers and personnel at State coalitions against sexual assault have partnered with rape 

crisis centers and national nonprofit organizations across 

the country to extend crisis hotline and other services to 

survivors of sexual assault during such national emergency; 

Whereas the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800–656– 

HOPE) has fielded more than 1,000,000 calls since its 

inception, providing free and confidential help to sexual 

assault survivors, with the active involvement of many 

such nonprofit organizations; 

Whereas sexual violence affects some individuals who serve in 

the Armed Forces, according to the Department of Defense, which recently launched the Safe Helpline (877– 

995–5247), through which thousands of members of the 

Armed Forces who annually report some form of sexual 

assault may receive free and confidential help; 

Whereas, during such national emergency, additional resources are available to victims of violent crime through 

the National Center for Victims of Crime, which operates 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

SRES 555 ATS 

the National Hotline for Crime Victims (855–4–VICTIM); 

Whereas, during such national emergency, first responders, 

including police, firefighters, and emergency medical 

technicians, have worked tirelessly to provide emergency 

services and respond to crime survivors; 

Whereas, during such national emergency, sexual assault forensic nurses have played an essential role in meeting the 

needs of crime victims by responding with empathy to 

victims in the immediate aftermath of their assault and 

ensuring the successful collection of crime scene evidence; 

Whereas, each year, crimes of sexual violence harm hundreds 

of thousands of individuals in the United States, sometimes with life-altering effects, and many perpetrators 

will never be brought to justice; 

Whereas sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of 

demographic or socioeconomic background, but research 

suggests that American Indians and Alaska Natives experience rates of sexual violence that significantly surpass 

such rates of other populations in the United States, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence; 

Whereas victims of sexual violence usually know their abuser, 

according to the Office for Victims of Crime at the Department of Justice, which recently lost a tireless advocate for crime survivors with the death of its longtime director, Joye Frost; and 

Whereas many sexual violence survivors suffer emotional 

complications, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, 

substance abuse, major depression, homelessness, eating 

disorders, and even suicide, long after their physical scars 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

SRES 555 ATS 

have healed, according to the National Sexual Violence 

Resource Center: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) this resolution represents the great appre3 ciation of, and an expression of support by, the Sen4 ate for the work of individuals in the United States 

5 who have provided and continue to provide an essen6 tial service to advance the safety and emotional 

7 wellness of survivors of sexual violence during the 

8 national emergency declared by the President under 

9 the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 

10 seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 

11 (COVID–19); 

12 (2) the Senate remains committed to promoting 

13 the awareness, prevention, and deterrence of sexual 

14 violence affecting individuals in the United States, 

15 including during such national emergency; 

16 (3) it is the sense of the Senate that it is ap17 propriate to properly acknowledge survivors of sex18 ual assault and commend the volunteers and profes19 sionals who assist such survivors in their efforts to 

20 heal; 

21 (4) the Senate extends its appreciation to the 

22 staff and volunteers of national and community or23 ganizations for their tireless efforts in supporting 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

SRES 555 ATS 

1 survivors of sexual assault throughout the year, but 

2 especially during such national emergency; and 

3 (5) public safety, law enforcement, and health 

4 professionals should be recognized and applauded for 

5 their continued efforts to ensure that perpetrators of 

6 sexual assault are held accountable, both during 

7 such national emergency and throughout the year. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS