Senate Supports National Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Women's Congressional Policy Institute

On September 28, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 438) supporting the goals and ideals of “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) sponsored the resolution.

The resolution contains a number of findings, including:

he Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has helped make strides toward breaking the cycle of violence, but work remains to be done;

Almost 25 percent of women surveyed had been raped or physically assaulted by a spouse or boyfriend at some point in their lives;
Women who have been abused are much more likely to suffer from chronic pain, diabetes, depression, unintended pregnancies, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS;
Twenty-five to 50 percent of abused women reported that they lost a job due, in part, to domestic violence;
The cost of domestic violence, including rape, physical assault, and stalking, exceeds $5.8 billion each year, of which $4.1 billion is spent on direct medical and mental health care services; and
There is a need to increase the public awareness about, and understanding of, domestic violence and the needs of battered women and their children.

The resolution states that the month of October 2004 has been recognized as “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” a month for activities furthering awareness of domestic violence.