I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6034 
To criminalize stalking using an unauthorized geotracking device, modify 
the 10-year marriage rule relating to spouse’s and surviving spouse’s 
insurance benefits in cases of domestic violence, ensure that healthcare 
providers can assist survivors of domestic violence, provide additional 
housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 24, 2023 
Mrs. SYKES introduced the following bill 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Commit-
tees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To criminalize stalking using an unauthorized geotracking 
device, modify the 10-year marriage rule relating to 
spouse’s and surviving spouse’s insurance benefits in 
cases of domestic violence, ensure that healthcare pro-
viders can assist survivors of domestic violence, provide 
additional housing protections for survivors of domestic 
violence, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safer Homes and 
Families Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STALKING PENALTY. 
Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Whoever’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
IN GENERAL.—Whoever’’; 
(2) by inserting after ‘‘uses the mail,’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘uses an unauthorized geotracking device’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘geotracking device’ means an 
electronic or mechanical device that permits a person 
to remotely determine or track the position and 
movement of another person. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘unauthorized’ means, with re-
spect to a geotracking device, that the person on 
whom the geotracking device is being used has not 
consented to such use or otherwise revoked consent 
to such use.’’. 
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SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF 10-YEAR MARRIAGE RULE IN 
CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 216(d) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 416(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(9)(A) In the case of a divorced woman de-
scribed in paragraph (1) or (2) or a divorced man 
described in paragraph (4) or (5) who provides to 
the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made 
by a court of law that the divorced woman or di-
vorced man was the victim of domestic violence com-
mitted by the spouse during the course of the mar-
riage, such paragraph as may be applicable with re-
spect to such divorced woman or divorced man shall 
be applied for purposes of this title by substituting 
‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the 
term ‘domestic violence’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against 
Women Act of 1994.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION
OF WIFE’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) In the case of any divorced wife who provides 
to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding made by 
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a court of law that the divorced wife was the victim of 
domestic violence (as defined in section 216(d)(9)(B)) 
committed by the spouse during the course of the mar-
riage, clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(G) shall be applied by 
substituting ‘5 years’ for ‘10 years’.’’. 
(c) TERMINATION OF HUSBAND’S INSURANCE BENE-
FITS.—Section 202(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) In the case of any divorced husband who pro-
vides to the Commissioner of Social Security a finding 
made by a court of law that the divorced husband was 
the victim of domestic violence (as defined in section 
216(d)(9)(B)) committed by the spouse, clause (ii) of 
paragraph (1)(G) shall be applied by substituting ‘5 years’ 
for ‘10 years’.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to monthly insurance 
benefits for months beginning at least 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 
4. 
DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM 
ON 
TRAUMA-IN-
FORMED, VICTIM-CENTERED TRAINING FOR 
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle Q of title IV of the Vio-
lent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (34 
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U.S.C. 12513 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 41702. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON TRAUMA-IN-
FORMED, VICTIM-CENTERED TRAINING FOR 
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘Attorney General’ means the At-
torney General, acting through the Director of the 
Office on Violence Against Women; 
‘‘(2) the term ‘Secretary’? means the Secretary 
of the Department of Health and Human Services; 
‘‘(3) the term ‘covered individual’ means an in-
dividual who interfaces with victims of domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, 
including— 
‘‘(A) an individual working for or on behalf 
of an eligible entity; 
‘‘(B) an administrator or personnel of a 
school, university, or other educational program 
or activity (including a campus police officer or 
a school resource officer); and 
‘‘(C) an emergency services employee; 
‘‘(4) the term ‘eligible entity’ means a facility 
as described in paragraph (1), (2), (4), (5), or (6) 
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of section 1624 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300s–3); and 
‘‘(5) the term ‘mandatory partner’ means a na-
tional, regional, or local victim services organization 
or agency working in collaboration with a facility de-
scribed in paragraph (4). 
‘‘(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General, in 
consultation with the Secretary, shall award grants 
on a competitive basis to eligible entities to collabo-
rate with their mandatory partners to carry out the 
demonstration program under this section by imple-
menting evidence-based or promising investigative 
policies and practices to incorporate trauma-in-
formed, victim-centered techniques designed to— 
‘‘(A) prevent re-traumatization of the vic-
tim; 
‘‘(B) ensure that covered individuals use 
evidence-based practices to identify, respond to, 
and treat cases of domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, sexual assault, and stalking; 
‘‘(C) increase collaboration among stake-
holders who are part of the coordinated commu-
nity response to domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, sexual assault, and stalking; and 
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‘‘(D) evaluate the effectiveness of the 
training process and content. 
‘‘(2) AWARD BASIS.—The Attorney General, in 
consultation with the Secretary, shall award grants 
under this section to multiple eligible entities for use 
in a variety of settings and communities, including— 
‘‘(A) urban, suburban, Tribal, remote, and 
rural areas; 
‘‘(B) college campuses; or 
‘‘(C) traditionally underserved commu-
nities. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this section shall use the grant to— 
‘‘(1) train covered individuals associated with 
the eligible entity to use evidence-based, trauma-in-
formed, and victim-centered techniques to identify 
and treat individuals who have experienced domestic 
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, 
including by— 
‘‘(A) customizing treatment approaches to 
ensure a culturally and linguistically appro-
priate approach to the community being served; 
‘‘(B) becoming proficient in understanding 
and responding to complex cases, including 
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cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, or stalking— 
‘‘(i) facilitated by alcohol or drugs; 
‘‘(ii) involving strangulation; 
‘‘(iii) committed by a non-stranger; 
‘‘(iv) committed by an individual of 
the same sex as the victim; 
‘‘(v) involving a victim with a dis-
ability; 
‘‘(vi) involving a male victim; or 
‘‘(vii) involving a lesbian, gay, bisex-
ual, or transgender (commonly referred to 
as ‘LGBT’) victim; 
‘‘(C) developing collaborative relationships 
between— 
‘‘(i) healthcare providers, law enforce-
ment officers, and other members of the 
response team; and 
‘‘(ii) the community being served; and 
‘‘(D) developing an understanding of how 
to define, identify, and correctly classify a re-
port of domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, or stalking; and 
‘‘(2) promote the efforts of the eligible entity to 
improve the response of covered individuals to do-
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