PRINTER'S NO. 4449
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1031
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, BARRAR, BOBACK, BROWN, BURNS, CIRESI,
SCHLEGEL CULVER, A. DAVIS, T. DAVIS, DEASY, DRISCOLL,
FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GLEIM, GREEN, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HILL-
EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, ISAACSON, JAMES, JONES,
M. K. KELLER, KINSEY, KORTZ, KULIK, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE,
McCLINTON, McNEILL, MEHAFFIE, MENTZER, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT,
NEILSON, OBERLANDER, PICKETT, POLINCHOCK, READSHAW, ROTHMAN,
ROZZI, RYAN, SANCHEZ, SAPPEY, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, STAATS,
STEPHENS, STRUZZI, THOMAS, TOEPEL AND YOUNGBLOOD,
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2020 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 individuals from all
racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic
backgrounds and takes many forms; and
WHEREAS, Assault, harassment, threats, vandalism,
trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking may occur; and
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WHEREAS, Abusive behaviors often escalate, causing 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, There are many barriers to detecting domestic
violence; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will
experience domestic violence during their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, An attempted or completed rape is experienced by 1
in 5 women and 1 in 40 men; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are
physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse
children in the home 30% to 60% of the time; and
WHEREAS, Intimate partner violence results in more than 18.5
million mental health care visits each year; 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 35% of victims who report an injury from
intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
injury; and
WHEREAS, Children who witness domestic violence in their
homes are 74% more likely to commit criminal assaults as adults;
and
WHEREAS, Collectively, victims of domestic violence lose
almost 8 million days of paid work annually; and
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WHEREAS, Businesses forfeit approximately $100 million in
lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and nonproductivity
annually; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 20% of those who experience intimate
partner violence obtain protection from abuse orders; and
WHEREAS, Each year, domestic violence programs in this
Commonwealth provide services to approximately 95,000 victims of
domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, To increase victim safety, authorities must
carefully follow screening, reporting, documentation and
referral requirements; 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; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of October 2020 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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