III 

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; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 929 IS 

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; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 929 IS 

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 communitybased 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of No3 vember 20, 2024, through December 20, 2024, as 

4 ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness 

5 Month’’; 

6 (2) supports efforts to— 

7 (A) raise awareness of survivors of homi8 cide victims; 

9 (B) take care of those affected by homi10 cide, including families, schools, and commu11 nities, with appropriate services and informa12 tion; and 

13 (C) encourage research to— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•SRES 929 IS 

1 (i) better address the needs of families 

2 and communities severely impacted by vio3 lence; and 

4 (ii) consider ways to improve access 

5 to, and the quality of, behavioral health 

6 services for survivors of homicide victims; 

7 and 

8 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in9 terest groups, and affected persons to— 

10 (A) promote awareness of survivors of 

11 homicide victims; 

12 (B) take an active role in the fight to end 

13 gun violence and homicide; 

14 (C) respond to all families suffering in the 

15 aftermath of homicide with consistency, com16 passion, and competence, and by centering the 

17 principles of love, unity, faith, hope, courage, 

18 justice, and forgiveness; and 

19 (D) observe National Survivors of Homi20 cide Victims Awareness Month with appropriate 

21 activities. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB