Expressing support for the designation of November 20 through December 20 as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 437 Expressing support for the designation of November 20 through December 20 as ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 11, 2019 Ms. PRESSLEY (for herself and Mrs. MCBATH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of November 20 through December 20 as ‘‘National Survivors of Homi- cide Victims Awareness Month’’. Whereas the United States faces a national public health cri- sis of gun violence; Whereas more than 13,000 homicides each year continue to rob families and communities of loved ones; Whereas for every 1 homicide victim, there are at least 10 surviving family members, resulting in over 130,000 new survivors of homicide victims each year; Whereas homicide victims are loved and grieved by mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, partners, grandparents, aunts, uncles, extended VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jun 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR437.IH HR437 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 437 IH family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, col- leagues, and communities across the country; Whereas almost 1 in 4 Black American and Hispanic/Latinx adults report having lost a loved one to gun-related homi- cide; Whereas losing a loved one to homicide is one of the most traumatic events a person can experience; Whereas homicide is the leading cause of death among Black Americans ages 12–19 and the second leading cause of death for teenagers nationwide; Whereas more than half of women who are victims of homi- cides are killed because of intimate partner violence; Whereas 40 percent of homicides in the United States go un- solved; Whereas homicide results in short-term and chronic physical and behavioral health consequences that carry significant behavioral and economic burdens on families and commu- nities impacted by trauma; Whereas all families of homicide victims deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion; Whereas surviving family members need holistic, coordinated, compassionate, and consistent support and services in the immediate aftermath of a homicide and ongoing opportu- nities for healing in the months and years afterward; Whereas surviving family members want to remember and honor their loved one’s lives regardless of the cir- cumstances surrounding their death; Whereas survivors of homicide victims are using their trage- dies to inform, influence, and impact public policy so that VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jun 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR437.IH HR437 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 437 IH all children, regardless of where they live, can grow up in a safe, peaceful community; Whereas survivors, advocates, and providers are working to implement equitable and effective community-based re- sponses to homicide; Whereas the leadership by surviving family and community members is essential to disrupting cycles of violence and promoting peace in all communities; and Whereas recognition of the needs of survivors can help com- bat trauma, foster healing, and inform joy for families and communities impacted by homicide: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) expresses support for the designation of 2 ‘‘National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness 3 Month’’; 4 (2) supports efforts to— 5 (A) raise awareness of survivors of homi- 6 cide victims; 7 (B) support survivors of homicide victims, 8 including families, schools, and communities, 9 with support services and information; and 10 (C) encourage research— 11 (i) to better address the needs of fam- 12 ilies and communities severely impacted by 13 violence; and 14 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jun 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR437.IH HR437 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HRES 437 IH (ii) to consider ways to improve access 1 to, and the quality of, behavioral health 2 services for survivors of homicide victims; 3 and 4 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in- 5 terest groups, and affected persons— 6 (A) to promote awareness of survivors of 7 homicide victims; 8 (B) to take an active role in the fight to 9 end gun violence and homicide; 10 (C) to respond to all families suffering in 11 the aftermath of homicide with consistency, 12 compassion, and competence; and 13 (D) to observe National Survivors of 14 Homicide Victims Awareness Month with ap- 15 propriate activities. 16 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jun 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR437.IH HR437 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS