IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 879 
Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2023, through De-
cember 20, 2023, as ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness 
Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 
Ms. PRESSLEY (for herself, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. BUSH, Ms. SCAN-
LON, Mr. TONKO, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. COSTA, Ms. 
BARRAGA´N, and Mr. SWALWELL) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 
2023, through December 20, 2023, as ‘‘National Sur-
vivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month’’. 
Whereas the United States faces a national public health cri-
sis of gun violence; 
Whereas, on average, more than 13,000 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 
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•HRES 879 IH 
of homicide victims grows exponentially each year as they 
navigate life after the tragic loss of their loved one; 
Whereas homicide victims are loved and grieved by family 
members, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues, and 
communities across the country; 
Whereas, in the United States, almost 1 in 4 adults who are 
Black or Latinx report having lost a loved one to gun- 
related homicide; 
Whereas losing a loved one to homicide is one of the most 
traumatic events an individual 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 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 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 opportu-
nities for healing in the months and years afterward; 
Whereas surviving family members want to remember and 
honor the lives of their loved ones regardless of the cir-
cumstances surrounding their death; 
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•HRES 879 IH 
Whereas survivors of homicide victims are transforming their 
pain into purpose by informing, influencing, and impact-
ing 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 to-
gether 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 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 to— 
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•HRES 879 IH 
(i) better address the needs of families 
and communities severely impacted by vio-
lence; 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, 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 by centering 
the principles of love, unity, faith, hope, cour-
age, justice, and forgiveness; and 
(D) to observe National Survivors of 
Homicide Victims Awareness Month with ap-
propriate activities. 
Æ 
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