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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 929 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 929

 Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2024, through 
    December 20, 2024, as ``National Survivors of Homicide Victims 
                           Awareness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024

Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2024, through 
    December 20, 2024, as ``National Survivors of Homicide Victims 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas the United States faces a national public health crisis of gun violence;
Whereas, on average, over 20,000 homicides each year continue to rob families 
        and communities of loved ones;
Whereas homicides increased by 30 percent in 2020, compounding the many deaths 
        caused by COVID-19;
Whereas, for every 1 homicide victim, there are at least 10 surviving family 
        members, and the number of survivors of homicide victims grows greater 
        each year as they navigate life after the tragic loss of their loved 
        one;
Whereas homicide victims are loved and grieved by parents, grandparents, 
        siblings, family members, partners, children, friends, neighbors, 
        classmates, colleagues, and communities across the country;
Whereas, in the United States, almost 1 in 4 Black and Hispanic or Latinx adults 
        report having lost a loved one to a gun-related homicide;
Whereas losing a loved one to homicide is one of the most traumatic events a 
        person can experience;
Whereas, in the United States, homicide is the leading cause of death for Black 
        teenagers and the second leading cause of death for teenagers overall;
Whereas more than \1/2\ of women who are victims of homicides are killed because 
        of intimate partner violence;
Whereas 40 percent of homicides in the United States go unsolved;
Whereas losing a loved one to homicide results in short-term and chronic 
        physical and behavioral health consequences that carry significant 
        behavioral and economic burdens on families and communities impacted by 
        murder, trauma, grief, and loss;
Whereas all families of homicide victims deserve to be treated with dignity and 
        compassion;
Whereas surviving family members need holistic, coordinated, compassionate, and 
        consistent support and services in the immediate aftermath of a homicide 
        and ongoing opportunities for healing in the months and years afterward;
Whereas surviving family members want to remember and honor their loved ones' 
        lives regardless of the circumstances surrounding their death;
Whereas survivors of homicide victims are transforming their pain into purpose 
        by informing, influencing, and impacting public policy, and working to 
        create and sustain an environment where all families can live in peace 
        and all people are valued;
Whereas survivors, advocates, and providers are working together to implement 
        equitable and effective community-based responses to homicide;
Whereas the leadership of surviving family and community members is essential to 
        disrupting cycles of violence and promoting peace in all communities; 
        and
Whereas recognition of the needs of survivors can help combat trauma, foster 
        healing, and inform joy for families and communities impacted by 
        homicide: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of November 20, 
        2024, through December 20, 2024, as ``National Survivors of 
        Homicide Victims Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports efforts to--
                    (A) raise awareness of survivors of homicide 
                victims;
                    (B) take care of those affected by homicide, 
                including families, schools, and communities, with 
                appropriate services and information; and
                    (C) encourage research to--
                            (i) better address the needs of families 
                        and communities severely impacted by violence; 
                        and
                            (ii) consider ways to improve access to, 
                        and the quality of, behavioral health services 
                        for survivors of homicide victims; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
        groups, and affected persons to--
                    (A) promote awareness of survivors of homicide 
                victims;
                    (B) take an active role in the fight to end gun 
                violence and homicide;
                    (C) respond to all families suffering in the 
                aftermath of homicide with consistency, compassion, and 
                competence, and by centering the principles of love, 
                unity, faith, hope, courage, justice, and forgiveness; 
                and
                    (D) observe National Survivors of Homicide Victims 
                Awareness Month with appropriate activities.
                                 <all>
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