OZARKA COLLEGE

H. RES. 46

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by establishing January 2009

as `National Stalking Awareness Month.'

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2009

Mr. POE of Texas (for himself, Mr. COSTA, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mrs.

MALONEY, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr.

MARCHANT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on the Judiciary

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RESOLUTION

Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by establishing January 2009

as `National Stalking Awareness Month'.

Whereas an estimated 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the

United States and, in the majority of such cases, the person is stalked by someone who is

not a stranger;

Whereas 81 percent of women, who are stalked by an intimate partner, are also physically

assaulted by that partner, and 76 percent of women, who are killed by an intimate partner,

were also stalked by that intimate partner;

Whereas 74.2 percent of stalking victims reported that the stalking partner interfered with

their employment, 26 percent of stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their

victimization, and 7 percent never return to work;

Whereas stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves, such

as relocating, changing their addresses, changing their identities, changing jobs, and

obtaining protection orders;

Whereas stalking is a crime that cuts across race, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation,

physical and mental ability, and economic status;

Whereas stalking is a crime under Federal law and under the laws of all 50 States and the

District of Columbia;

Whereas rapid advancements in technology have made cyber-surveillance the new

frontier in stalking;

Whereas there are national organizations, local victim service organizations, prosecutors'

offices, and police departments that stand ready to assist stalking victims and who are

working diligently to craft competent, thorough, and innovative responses to stalking;

Whereas there is a need to enhance the criminal justice system's response to stalking and

stalking victims, including aggressive investigation and prosecution; and

Whereas the House of Representatives urges the establishment of January 2009 as

National Stalking Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That--

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

(A) National Stalking Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the people of

the United States about stalking;

(B) all Americans should applaud the efforts of the many victim service providers, police,

prosecutors, national and community organizations, and private sector supporters for their

efforts in promoting awareness about stalking; and

(C) policymakers, criminal justice officials, victim service and human service agencies,

nonprofits, and others should recognize the need to increase awareness of stalking and the

availability of services for stalking victims; and

(2) the House of Representatives urges national and community organizations, businesses

in the private sector, and the media to promote