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PRINTER'S NO. 2036
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
398
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, BROWNE, ARGALL, ARNOLD, AUMENT, BAKER,
BARTOLOTTA, BREWSTER, COSTA, FONTANA, GORDNER, IOVINO,
KEARNEY, LANGERHOLC, MARTIN, MENSCH, PHILLIPS-HILL, PITTMAN,
SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SCHWANK, STEFANO AND J. WARD,
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating 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 another in an intimate
or familial relationship; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence impacts 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
WHEREAS, Domestic violence takes many forms, and the victims
are often subjected to physical and emotional abuse, harassment,
threats, financial abuse and stalking; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence can cause victims to suffer
physical and emotional trauma, anxiety, stress and sleep
deprivation and has been linked to long-term health issues; and
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WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a chronically underreported
crime; and
WHEREAS, One in four women and one in seven men will
experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner; and
WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence, there were 112 fatalities associated with
domestic violence in 2019; and
WHEREAS, In the last 10 years, more than 1,600 people have
died from domestic violence-related incidents in Pennsylvania;
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, Intimate partner violence has an estimated lifetime
economic burden of $156 billion in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Less than 20% of victims who report an injury from
intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
injury; and
WHEREAS, Collectively, victims of domestic violence lose
approximately 8 million days of paid work annually as a result
of violence; 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, More than 15 million children are exposed to
domestic violence each year, and those children are at a greater
risk for repeating the cycle of abuse as adults; and
WHEREAS, Survivors of domestic violence and their families
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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 Commonwealth's justice system and
other responsible and appropriate services; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2020
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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