Bill Text: PA HR198 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Designating the month of April 2009 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-03-31 - Adopted [HR198 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR198-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 1357
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 198 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, SAYLOR, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DELOZIER, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PRESTON, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, HUTCHINSON, MARSICO, GIBBONS, GROVE, PICKETT AND PHILLIPS, MARCH 31, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 31, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2009 as "Sexual Assault Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Sexual violence consists of a range of unacceptable
behaviors, including rape, incest, molestation, date and
acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape,
ritual abuse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, indecent
sexual contact, sexual harassment, exhibitionism and voyeurism;
and
WHEREAS, One in four girls and one in six boys will be
sexually assaulted by 18 years of age; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, an estimated 876,064 adult
women and 111,298 adult men each year are subjected to the
traumatic experience of being raped; and
WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence are more likely to
experience long-term mental health consequences, including
suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders, substance
abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, psychiatric
hospitalizations and post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
identified sexual violence as an urgent and costly public health
crisis; and
WHEREAS, The American Medical Association has stated that
sexual violence is a silent, violent epidemic which is growing
at alarming rates and traumatizing the women, men and children
of this nation; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law
enforcement agencies across the nation indicate that sexual
violence is the most underreported crime in the United States,
with only an average of 31% of rape and sexual assault incidents
being reported to police; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of April 2009 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania, recognize that it is time to take action against
sexual violence by uniting the efforts of all who work on behalf
of victims of sexual violence, eliminate sexual crimes in our
communities and educate individuals in preventing sexual
violence.
20090HR0198PN1357 - 2 -