Pennsylvania SR 172: A Resolution designating the month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1215
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 172
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, SAVAL,
TARTAGLIONE, HUGHES, COSTA, KANE, HAYWOOD, L. WILLIAMS,
CULVER, VOGEL, SANTARSIERO, COMITTA, HUTCHINSON AND SCHWANK,
OCTOBER 7, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 7, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of October 2025 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, Reports have indicated that domestic violence has
been on the rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic;
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 has a disproportionate impact in
communities most affected by trauma exposure, structural racism
and other health disparities; and
WHEREAS, Barriers to accessing services increase the risk for
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undocumented people, people with disabilities, children, members
of BIPOC communities who feel unsafe interacting with law
enforcement and LGBTQ people, particularly members of the
transgender community, who face difficulties accessing gender-
appropriate shelter services; 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
WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a chronically underreported
crime; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, 37.1% of Pennsylvania women and 30.4% of Pennsylvania
men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate
partner sexual violence or intimate partner stalking in their
lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, One in four women and one in seven men will
experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner; and
WHEREAS, In the last 10 years, more than 1,600 people have
died from domestic-violence-related incidents 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, Each year, domestic violence programs in
Pennsylvania provide services to nearly 90,000 victims of
domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate
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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, One such way to help is by taking the Men's
Challenge Pledge, which states "I pledge not to participate in,
approve of, or remain silent about violence. I pledge to be an
active bystander who will speak out about violence against women
and girls. I will encourage all men to work together with Center
for Victims and use our collective voices and resources to end
all forms of violence"; and
WHEREAS, Survivors of domestic violence and their families
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 2025
as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
Laurel House, P.O. Box 764, Norristown, PA 19404; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
Domestic Abuse Project, 14 West Second Street, Media, PA 19063.
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