IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 437 

Expressing support for the designation of November 20 through December 

20 as ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 11, 2019 

Ms. PRESSLEY (for herself and Mrs. MCBATH) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of November 20 

through December 20 as ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas the United States faces a national public health crisis of gun violence; 

Whereas more than 13,000 homicides each year continue to 

rob families and communities of loved ones; 

Whereas for every 1 homicide victim, there are at least 10 

surviving family members, resulting in over 130,000 new 

survivors of homicide victims each year; 

Whereas homicide victims are loved and grieved by mothers, 

fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, husbands, 

wives, partners, grandparents, aunts, uncles, extended 


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family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues, and communities across the country; 

Whereas almost 1 in 4 Black American and Hispanic/Latinx 

adults report having lost a loved one to gun-related homicide; 

Whereas losing a loved one to homicide is one of the most 

traumatic events a person can experience; 

Whereas homicide is the leading cause of death among Black 

Americans ages 12–19 and the second leading cause of 

death for teenagers nationwide; 

Whereas more than half 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 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 trauma; 

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 one’s lives regardless of the circumstances surrounding their death; 

Whereas survivors of homicide victims are using their tragedies to inform, influence, and impact public policy so that 


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all children, regardless of where they live, can grow up 

in a safe, peaceful community; 

Whereas survivors, advocates, and providers are working to 

implement equitable and effective community-based responses to homicide; 

Whereas the leadership by 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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness 

4 Month’’; 

5 (2) supports efforts to— 

6 (A) raise awareness of survivors of homi7 cide victims; 

8 (B) support survivors of homicide victims, 

9 including families, schools, and communities, 

10 with support services and information; and 

11 (C) encourage research— 

12 (i) to better address the needs of fam13 ilies and communities severely impacted by 

14 violence; and 


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1 (ii) to consider ways to improve access 

2 to, and the quality of, behavioral health 

3 services for survivors of homicide victims; 

4 and 

5 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in6 terest groups, and affected persons— 

7 (A) to promote awareness of survivors of 

8 homicide victims; 

9 (B) to take an active role in the fight to 

10 end gun violence and homicide; 

11 (C) to respond to all families suffering in 

12 the aftermath of homicide with consistency, 

13 compassion, and competence; and 

14 (D) to observe National Survivors of 

15 Homicide Victims Awareness Month with ap16 propriate activities. 

Æ 


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