PRINTER'S NO. 3564
No. 509 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY BEBKO-JONES, G. WRIGHT, M. BAKER, BELARDI, BISHOP,
WOJNAROSKI, DONATUCCI, SANTONI, SAINATO, LESCOVITZ, LEDERER,
DeWEESE, WASHINGTON, WALKO, RUBLEY, KELLER, DALEY, CURRY,
CRUZ, ROSS, ROBINSON, D. EVANS, CREIGHTON, COY, CORRIGAN,
KAISER, JAMES, HORSEY, READSHAW, PISTELLA, PIPPY, CLYMER,
CAPPELLI, CALTAGIRONE, HERMAN, TIGUE, THOMAS, STURLA,
STEELMAN, STABACK, MANDERINO, MARSICO, J. EVANS, FICHTER,
McGEEHAN, McGILL, SCHRODER, SHANER, SOLOBAY, GORDNER, GEORGE,
HARHAI, GEIST, GABIG, FRANKEL, FORCIER, McILHATTAN, MELIO AND
E. Z. TAYLOR, APRIL 8, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 8, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of April 2002 as "Sexual Assault Awareness
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, One in three women and one in six men experience a
4 sexual assault in their lifetime; and
5 WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, an estimated 2,116,918 females
6 and 987,882 males experience the life-altering trauma of sexual
7 victimization; and
8 WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
9 identified sexual violence as an urgent and costly public health
10 crisis, and the American Medical Association has said that
11 sexual violence is a silent, violent epidemic growing at
12 alarming rates and traumatizing the women, men and children of
13 our nation; and
1 WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law
2 enforcement agencies across the nation, including the
3 Pennsylvania State Police, indicate that sexual violence is the
4 most underreported crime in America, with only 28.1% of rape and
5 sexual assault incidents being reported to police; and
6 WHEREAS, Sexual violence consists of a range of unacceptable
7 behaviors, including rape, incest, molestation, date and
8 acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital/partner rape, ritual
9 abuse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, indecent sexual
10 contact, sexual harassment, exhibitionism and voyeurism; and
11 WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence are more likely to
12 experience long-term mental health consequences, including
13 suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders, substance
14 abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric
15 hospitalizations and posttraumatic stress disorder; therefore be
16 it
17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
18 month of April 2002 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in
19 Pennsylvania, recognizing that it is time to take action against
20 sexual violence by uniting the efforts of all who work to end
21 sexual violence and ensuring that victims receive just and
22 adequate treatment; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
24 citizens to demonstrate their support for those who work to
25 support victims of sexual violence and to take action for
26 eliminating sexual crimes in our communities.
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