HR 279 — A Resolution recognizing the month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

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
 1   Recognizing the month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence
 2      Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, Beginning in 1989, the month of October was declared
 4   as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in the United
 5   States; and
 6      WHEREAS, The Department of Justice defines "domestic
 7   violence" as "a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship
 8   that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and
 9   control over another intimate partner"; and
10      WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a significant issue in the
11   United States that affects more than 10 million people every
12   year; and
13      WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
14   Domestic Violence (PCADV), one in three women and one in four
15   men experience domestic violence in their lifetimes; and
16      WHEREAS, Over the past decade, PCADV reports that more than
17   1,400 individuals were killed in this Commonwealth as a result
 1   of domestic violence; and
 2         WHEREAS, In 2024 alone, 104 individuals died as a result of
 3   domestic violence in this Commonwealth according to PCADV; and
 4         WHEREAS, Across the United States, PCADV reports that 20% of
 5   pregnant women experience domestic violence during their
 6   pregnancy; and
 7         WHEREAS, Women with unintended pregnancies are two to four
 8   times more likely to experience physical abuse compared to those
 9   with planned pregnancies; and
10         WHEREAS, Homicide is the leading cause of death among
11   pregnant women in the United States; and
12         WHEREAS, The stress and trauma experienced by victims of
13   domestic violence can lead to depression, feelings of
14   hopelessness, sadness and withdrawal from social interactions;
15   and
16         WHEREAS, Domestic violence disrupts the family structure and
17   creates an environment that breeds fear, mistrust and
18   instability; and
19         WHEREAS, Domestic violence normalizes unhealthy and abusive
20   relationships, leading to confusion with respect to appropriate
21   behavior and boundaries within a family; and
22         WHEREAS, According to the National Institutes of Health,
23   children who are exposed to domestic violence commonly grow up
24   to believe that violence is a reasonable approach to resolving
25   conflicts; and
26         WHEREAS, Various groups dedicated to providing resources and
27   support services for victims of domestic violence served more
28   than 3,000 victims in a single day in 2023; and
29         WHEREAS, PCADV estimates that the lifetime economic burden of
30   intimate partner violence in this Commonwealth is $156 billion;

20250HR0279PN2079                    - 2 -
 1   and
 2         WHEREAS, PCADV's publicly accessible Internet website lists
 3   various resources and support services for victims of domestic
 4   violence throughout this Commonwealth; and
 5         WHEREAS, The Office of Victim Advocate established the
 6   Address Confidentiality Program for victims of domestic and
 7   sexual violence as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 6703; and
 8         WHEREAS, Domestic violence public awareness can empower
 9   victims by validating their experiences and encouraging them to
10   report acts of domestic violence to law enforcement before the
11   violence escalates; and
12         WHEREAS, By recognizing the month of October 2025 as
13   "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," the House of
14   Representatives can inform and educate the public about domestic
15   violence, its prevalence in this Commonwealth, its impact on
16   victims and families and the various resources and support
17   systems available to assist and protect victims; therefore be it
18         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
19   month of October 2025 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in
20   Pennsylvania; and be it further
21         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commit to raising
22   awareness and providing resources to support and protect victims
23   of domestic violence in this Commonwealth.




20250HR0279PN2079                    - 3 -