Title: Expressing support for the designation of November 20 through December 20 as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month".
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 437 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 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 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
    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 homicide 
                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 families 
                        and communities severely impacted by violence; 
                        and
                            (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, interest 
        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 appropriate activities.
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