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PRINTER'S NO. 2079
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 279
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, HILL-EVANS, BRIGGS, CONKLIN, CURRY,
FLOOD, GALLAGHER, GAYDOS, GUENST, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD,
McNEILL, NEILSON, O'MARA, PROBST, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, SCHEUREN,
SHUSTERMAN, VENKAT, WAXMAN AND D. WILLIAMS, JULY 1, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 1, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Beginning in 1989, the month of October was declared
as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice defines "domestic
violence" as "a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship
that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and
control over another intimate partner"; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a significant issue in the
United States that affects more than 10 million people every
year; and
WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (PCADV), one in three women and one in four
men experience domestic violence in their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, Over the past decade, PCADV reports that more than
1,400 individuals were killed in this Commonwealth as a result
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of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, In 2024 alone, 104 individuals died as a result of
domestic violence in this Commonwealth according to PCADV; and
WHEREAS, Across the United States, PCADV reports that 20% of
pregnant women experience domestic violence during their
pregnancy; and
WHEREAS, Women with unintended pregnancies are two to four
times more likely to experience physical abuse compared to those
with planned pregnancies; and
WHEREAS, Homicide is the leading cause of death among
pregnant women in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The stress and trauma experienced by victims of
domestic violence can lead to depression, feelings of
hopelessness, sadness and withdrawal from social interactions;
and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence disrupts the family structure and
creates an environment that breeds fear, mistrust and
instability; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence normalizes unhealthy and abusive
relationships, leading to confusion with respect to appropriate
behavior and boundaries within a family; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Institutes of Health,
children who are exposed to domestic violence commonly grow up
to believe that violence is a reasonable approach to resolving
conflicts; and
WHEREAS, Various groups dedicated to providing resources and
support services for victims of domestic violence served more
than 3,000 victims in a single day in 2023; and
WHEREAS, PCADV estimates that the lifetime economic burden of
intimate partner violence in this Commonwealth is $156 billion;
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and
WHEREAS, PCADV's publicly accessible Internet website lists
various resources and support services for victims of domestic
violence throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Victim Advocate established the
Address Confidentiality Program for victims of domestic and
sexual violence as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 6703; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence public awareness can empower
victims by validating their experiences and encouraging them to
report acts of domestic violence to law enforcement before the
violence escalates; and
WHEREAS, By recognizing the month of October 2025 as
"Domestic Violence Awareness Month," the House of
Representatives can inform and educate the public about domestic
violence, its prevalence in this Commonwealth, its impact on
victims and families and the various resources and support
systems available to assist and protect victims; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commit to raising
awareness and providing resources to support and protect victims
of domestic violence in this Commonwealth.
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