PRINTER'S NO. 1240
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
215
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, AUMENT, BAKER, BARTOLOTTA, BLAKE,
BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROOKS, BROWNE, COSTA, DINNIMAN, FARNESE,
FOLMER, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, HAYWOOD, HUGHES, LAUGHLIN, LEACH,
MARTIN, McGARRIGLE, McILHINNEY, MENSCH, RAFFERTY,
RESCHENTHALER, SABATINA, SCAVELLO, SCHWANK, STREET,
TARTAGLIONE, VOGEL, WAGNER, WARD, WHITE AND YUDICHAK,
OCTOBER 16, 2017
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 16, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of October 2017 as "Domestic Violence
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior
used to establish power and control over an intimate partner;
and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence often causes emotional harm to
victims, their children, other family members, friends,
neighbors and coworkers; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence affects men and women from all
racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence takes many forms, and the victims
are often subjected to abuse, harassment, threats, financial
abuse and stalking; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence often escalates over time, causing
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victims to suffer physical and emotional trauma, anxiety,
stress, sleep deprivation, loss of confidence, fear and, in some
cases, injury and death by suicide or homicide; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is one of the most chronically
underreported crimes; and
WHEREAS, One in four women and one in seven men will
experience domestic violence in his or her lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 2.3 million people are
physically or sexually assaulted by a current or former spouse
or intimate partner; and
WHEREAS, On average, three women are killed by a current or
former intimate partner each day in the United States; and
WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence, in 2016 there were 102 fatalities associated
with domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, In a 2017 report, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention found that approximately 10% of high school
students reported physical victimization and 10% reported sexual
victimization from a dating partner in the 12 months prior; and
WHEREAS, The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8
billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical
and mental health services; and
WHEREAS, Less than 20% of victims who report an injury from
intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
injury; and
WHEREAS, Victims of domestic violence lose approximately 8
million days of paid work annually as a result of the violence;
and
WHEREAS, Each year, businesses forfeit approximately $100
million in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and
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nonproductivity; and
WHEREAS, Each year, domestic violence programs in
Pennsylvania provide services to nearly 90,000 victims of
domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, Thirty percent to sixty percent of perpetrators of
intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home; and
WHEREAS, 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic
violence each year and those exposed in their homes are 74% more
likely to commit criminal assaults as adults; and
WHEREAS, At-risk individuals and families need education
relating to their legal rights, judicial proceedings, advocacy,
counseling and support services, shelter care and crisis
intervention; and
WHEREAS, The strength of this Commonwealth relies on healthy,
peaceful families and the safety of its residents, especially
women and children, and this strength must be ensured by
immediate intervention of the State's justice system and other
responsible and appropriate services; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2017
as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 3605
Vartan Way, Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
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