,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #gec ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #bb 7legislative day1 ,october #ai71 #bjbj,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,,resolution ,supporting the goals and ideals of ,national ,domestic ,violence ,awareness ,month4 ,whereas1 according to the ,national ,intimate ,partner and ,sexual ,violence ,survey-- 7#a7 up to #ab1jjj1jjj individuals in the ,united ,states report experiencing intimate partner violence annually1 including physical violence1 rape1 or stalking2 and 7#b7 approximately #a in #e women in the ,united ,states and up to #a in #g men in the ,united ,states have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetimes2 ,whereas1 on average1 #c women in the ,united ,states are killed each day by a current or former intimate partner1 according to the ,bureau of ,justice ,statistics2 ,whereas domestic violence can affect anyone1 but women who are #ah to #cd years of age typically experience the highest rates of domestic violence2 ,whereas survivors of domestic violence are strong1 courageous1 and resilient2 ,whereas most female victims of intimate partner violence have been victimized by the same offender previously2 ,whereas domestic violence is cited as a significant factor in homelessness among families2 ,whereas millions of children are exposed to domestic violence each year2 ,whereas research shows that boys who are exposed to domestic violence in their households are more likely to become perpetrators of intimate partner violence2 ,whereas victims of domestic violence experience immediate and long-term negative outcomes1 including detrimental effects on mental and physical health2 ,whereas research consistently shows that being abused by an intimate partner increases an individual's likelihood of substance use as well as associated harmful consequences2 ,whereas victims of domestic violence may lose several days of paid work each year and may lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from domestic violence2 ,whereas crisis hotlines serving domestic violence victims operate #bd hours per day1 #cfe days per year1 and offer important crisis intervention services1 support services1 information1 and referrals for victims2 ,whereas staff and volunteers of domestic violence shelters and programs in the ,united ,states1 in cooperation with #ef ,state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence1 provide essential services to-- 7#a7 thousands of adults and children each day2 and 7#b7 #a1jjj1jjj adults and children each year2 ,whereas more than #afj ,states1 counties1 and cities have experienced an increase in reports of domestic violence during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 ,whereas the ,,covid-#ai pandemic increases the isolation of survivors of domestic violence and that isolation is being used as a tool by abusers to exert power and coercive control2 ,whereas domestic violence programs and hotlines have seen a substantial increase in contacts since the beginning of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic and are expecting a surge in requests for services when social distancing is no longer necessary2 ,whereas local ,y,w,c,as shared that between ,march #ca1 #bjbj1 and late summer #bjbj1 as a result of the impact from the ,,covid-#ai pandemic-- 7#a7 #fi percent of respondent ,y,w,c,as that operate domestic violence hotlines reported an increase in demand for services2 and 7#b7 #fd percent of nearly #ajj local ,y,w,c,as who provide domestic violence services 7either emergency shelter or transitional housing7 reported an increase in demand for domestic violence shelter2 ,whereas while violence as a lived experience of ,american ,indian and ,alaska ,native women exists in less pressing times1 the ,,covid-#ai pandemic has increased the challenges and barriers to accessing safety by exacerbating already existing issues including-- 7#a7 lack of safe housing for victims2 7#b7 lack of space in shelters for victims to maintain safe social distancing2 7#c7 lack of personal protective equipment for staff of tribal shelters and victim services programs2 7#d7 limited transportation for victims2 and 7#e7 lack of access to adequate health care2 ,whereas respondents to a survey of domestic violence programs reported that survivors of domestic violence are facing financial challenges related to ,,covid-#ai and three quarters of those respondents reported that survivors are having trouble accessing food1 and more than half of those respondents have reported that survivors cannot pay their bills2 ,whereas medical professionals have reported that survivors of domestic violence are presenting with more severe injuries during the pandemic2 ,whereas domestic violence programs are having to change the way they provide services in response to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 ,whereas advocates for survivors of domestic violence and survivors face the same challenges with childcare and facilitating online learning that others do2 ,whereas1 according to a #bjai survey conducted by the ,national ,network to ,end ,domestic ,violence1 #gg1bbf domestic violence victims were served by domestic violence shelters and programs around the ,united ,states in a single day2 ,whereas non-citizen victims of domestic violence report heightened concerns with accessing law enforcement and services due to uncertainty arising from changing immigration policies and heightened immigration enforcement2 ,whereas law enforcement officers in the ,united ,states put their lives at risk each day by responding to incidents of domestic violence1 which can be among the most volatile and deadly calls2 ,whereas ,congress first demonstrated a significant commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence with the enactment of the landmark ,family ,violence ,prevention and ,services ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajdja et seq472 ,whereas ,congress has remained committed to protecting survivors of all forms of domestic violence and sexual abuse by making ,federal funding available to support the activities that are authorized under-- 7#a7 the ,family ,violence ,prevention and ,services ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajdja et seq472 and 7#b7 the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia et seq472 ,whereas there is a need to continue to support programs and activities aimed at domestic violence intervention and domestic violence prevention in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas domestic violence programs provide trauma-informed services to protect the safety1 privacy1 and confidentiality of survivors of domestic violence2 and ,whereas individuals and organizations that are dedicated to preventing and ending domestic violence should be recognized3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that-- 7#a7 the ,senate-- 7,a7 supports the goals and ideals of ,national ,domestic ,violence ,awareness ,month2 7,b7 commends domestic violence victim advocates1 domestic violence victim service providers1 crisis hotline staff1 and first responders serving victims of domestic violence1 for their compassionate support of survivors of domestic violence2 and 7,c7 recognizes the impact of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic on advocates for survivors of domestic violence and survivors2 and 7#b7 it is the sense of the ,senate that ,congress should-- 7,a7 continue to raise awareness of-- 7i7 domestic violence in the ,united ,states2 and 7ii7 the corresponding devastating effects of domestic violence on survivors1 families1 and communities2 and 7,b7 pledge continued support for programs designed to-- 7i7 assist survivors of domestic violence2 7ii7 hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable2 and 7iii7 bring an end to domestic violence4