I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1978 
To establish a grant program to empower relatives, friends, and co-workers 
of domestic violence victims to create safety plans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 6, 2017 
Ms. JACKSON LEE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program to empower relatives, friends, 
and co-workers of domestic violence victims to create 
safety plans. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Violence 
Safety Plan Grant Program Act of 2017’’ or as the ‘‘My 
Sister’s Keeper Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Approximately 1 in 4 women will experience 
domestic violence during her lifetime and every year; 
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1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is mur-
dered by her current or former partner. 
(2) Every year, more than 3 million children 
witness domestic violence in their homes and chil-
dren who live in homes where there is domestic vio-
lence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates. 
(3) Children are more likely to intervene when 
they witness severe violence against a parent, which 
places them at great risk for injury or even death. 
(4) Girls who witness domestic violence are 
more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults and 
boys who witness domestic violence are more likely 
to become adult abusers of their partners, their chil-
dren, or both, thus continuing the cycle of violence 
in the next generation. 
(5) Most domestic violence incidents are never 
reported. 
(6) Family members, close friends, co-workers, 
and other persons close to a victim of domestic vio-
lence frequently observe things that lead them to 
suspect that their loved one or colleague is being 
abused but do not feel they possess the knowledge 
and skills needed to provide constructive assistance 
that can make a real difference in the life of the vic-
tim. 
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(7) Domestic violence costs the national econ-
omy more than $37 billion a year in law enforce-
ment involvement, legal work, medical and mental 
health treatment, and lost productivity. 
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO DISCOURAGE DOMESTIC VIO-
LENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall estab-
lish a program to award grants to eligible State and local 
governments, educational institutions, and non-profit or-
ganizations to develop, promote, and teach the importance 
of the critical role that can be played by relatives, friends, 
and co-workers in combating domestic violence. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of the 
grant program under this section $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. 
(c) SUNSET.—The provisions of this section shall 
cease to have effect beginning on the last day of fiscal 
year 2022. 
Æ 
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