Raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by expressing support for the designation of January 2021 as "National Stalking Awareness Month".

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 68 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 68

    Raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by 
 expressing support for the designation of January 2021 as ``National 
                      Stalking Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2021

Mrs. Murphy of Florida (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by 
 expressing support for the designation of January 2021 as ``National 
                      Stalking Awareness Month''.

Whereas approximately 1 in 6 women in the United States, at some point during 
        her lifetime, has experienced stalking victimization, during which the 
        woman felt very fearful or believed that she or someone close to her 
        would be harmed or killed;
Whereas it is estimated that between 6,000,000 and 7,500,000 individuals in the 
        United States report that they had been victims of stalking each year;
Whereas more than 85 percent of victims of stalking reported that they had been 
        stalked by someone they knew;
Whereas nearly 70 percent of intimate partner stalking victims were threatened 
        with physical harm by stalkers;
Whereas 11 percent of victims of stalking reported having been stalked for more 
        than 5 years;
Whereas two-thirds of stalkers pursue their victims at least once a week;
Whereas many victims of stalking are forced to take drastic measures to protect 
        themselves, including relocating, changing jobs, or obtaining protection 
        orders;
Whereas the prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe 
        depression is much higher among victims of stalking than the general 
        population;
Whereas many victims of stalking do not report stalking to the police or contact 
        a victim service provider, shelter, or hotline;
Whereas stalking is a crime under Federal law and the laws of all 50 States, the 
        District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States;
Whereas stalking affects victims of every race, age, culture, gender, sexual 
        orientation, physical and mental ability, and economic status;
Whereas national organizations, local victim service organizations, campuses, 
        prosecutor's offices, and police departments stand ready to assist 
        victims of stalking and are working diligently to develop effective and 
        innovative responses to stalking, including online stalking;
Whereas there is a need to improve the response of the criminal justice system 
        to stalking through more aggressive investigation and prosecution;
Whereas there is a need for an increase in the availability of victim services 
        across the United States, and the services must include programs 
        tailored to meet the needs of victims of stalking;
Whereas individuals 18 to 24 years old experience the highest rates of stalking 
        victimization, and a majority of stalking victims report their 
        victimization first occurred before the age of 25;
Whereas up to 75 percent of women in college who experience behavior relating to 
        stalking experience other forms of victimization, including sexual or 
        physical victimization;
Whereas there is a need for an effective response to stalking on each campus;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the risk of cyberstalking and 
        harassment, particularly among school-age individuals;
Whereas service organizations and law enforcement entities have swiftly adapted 
        to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to continue to serve victims of 
        stalking; and
Whereas the House of Representatives finds that ``National Stalking Awareness 
        Month'' provides an opportunity to educate the people of the United 
        States about stalking: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Stalking Awareness Month'';
            (2) applauds the efforts of service providers for victims 
        of stalking, police, prosecutors, national and community 
        organizations, campuses, and private sector supporters to 
        promote awareness of stalking;
            (3) encourages policymakers, criminal justice officials, 
        victim service and human service agencies, institutions of 
        higher education, and nonprofit organizations to increase 
        awareness of stalking and continue to support the availability 
        of services for victims of stalking; and
            (4) urges national and community organizations, businesses 
        in the private sector, and the media to promote awareness of 
        the crime of stalking through ``National Stalking Awareness 
        Month''.
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