THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY R. BROWN, SCAVELLO, BAKER, BISHOP, BOYD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DAVIS, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, GINGRICH, GRELL, GROVE, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KILLION, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, PEIFER, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STABACK, STEPHENS, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, BRADFORD, KIRKLAND AND B. BOYLE, APRIL 11, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 11, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of April 2011 as "Sexual Assault Awareness

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Sexual violence consists of a range of unacceptable

behaviors, including rape, incest, molestation, date and

acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape,

ritual abuse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, indecent

sexual contact, sexual harassment, exhibitionism and voyeurism;

and

WHEREAS, One in five girls and one in six boys will be

sexually assaulted by 18 years of age; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, an estimated 876,064 adult

women and 111,298 adult men each year are subjected to the

traumatic experience of being raped; and

WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence are more likely to

experience long-term mental health consequences, including

suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders, substance

abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric

hospitalizations and post-traumatic stress disorder; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has

identified sexual violence as an urgent and costly public health

crisis; and

WHEREAS, The American Medical Association has stated that

sexual violence is a silent, violent epidemic which is growing

at alarming rates and traumatizing the women, men and children

of this nation; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law

enforcement agencies across the nation indicate that sexual

violence is the most underreported crime in the United States,

with only an average of 31% of rape and sexual assault incidents

being reported to police; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of April 2011 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania and recognize that it is time to take action

against sexual violence by uniting the efforts of all who work

on behalf of victims of sexual violence to educate individuals

in preventing sexual violence and eliminate sexual crimes in our

communities.