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 Homi-
cide Victims Awareness Month’’. 
Whereas the United States faces a national public health cri-
sis 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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•HRES 437 IH 
family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, col-
leagues, 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 homi-
cide; 
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 homi-
cides are killed because of intimate partner violence; 
Whereas 40 percent of homicides in the United States go un-
solved; 
Whereas homicide results in short-term and chronic physical 
and behavioral health consequences that carry significant 
behavioral and economic burdens on families and commu-
nities 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 opportu-
nities 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 cir-
cumstances surrounding their death; 
Whereas survivors of homicide victims are using their trage-
dies 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 re-
sponses 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 com-
bat trauma, foster healing, and inform joy for families 
and communities impacted by homicide: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness 
Month’’; 
(2) supports efforts to— 
(A) raise awareness of survivors of homi-
cide victims; 
(B) support survivors of homicide victims, 
including families, schools, and communities, 
with support services and information; and 
(C) encourage research— 
(i) to better address the needs of fam-
ilies and communities severely impacted by 
violence; and 
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(ii) to 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, in-
terest groups, and affected persons— 
(A) to promote awareness of survivors of 
homicide victims; 
(B) to take an active role in the fight to 
end gun violence and homicide; 
(C) to respond to all families suffering in 
the aftermath of homicide with consistency, 
compassion, and competence; and 
(D) to observe National Survivors of 
Homicide Victims Awareness Month with ap-
propriate activities. 
Æ 
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