[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 330 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 330
Supporting the designation of the week of April 23 through April 29,
2023, as ``National Crime Victims' Rights Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 26, 2023
Mr. D'Esposito (for himself and Mr. Costa) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of the week of April 23 through April 29,
2023, as ``National Crime Victims' Rights Week''.
Whereas crime and victimization in the United States have significant, and
sometimes life-shattering, impacts on victims, survivors, and
communities across the United States;
Whereas research suggests that there are several million violent victimizations
each year in the United States, yet less than half of all violent crimes
are ever reported to police;
Whereas crime victims and survivors need and deserve support and access to
services to help them cope with the physical, psychological, financial,
and other adverse effects of crime;
Whereas Congress has recognized the importance of supporting crime victims and
survivors through the passage of legislation concerning this important
issue, including--
(1) the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.);
(2) the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.);
(3) the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-236; 130
Stat. 966);
(4) the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10401 et
seq.);
(5) the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et
seq.);
(6) the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (34 U.S.C. 21701 et
seq.);
(7) the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of
2018 (Public Law 115-299; 132 Stat. 4383);
(8) the Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis,
and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act (Public Law 108-405; 118 Stat.
2261); and
(9) the Justice for All Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-405; 118 Stat.
2260);
Whereas crime can touch the life of any individual, regardless of the age, race,
national origin, religion, or gender of that individual;
Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on individuals,
families, schools, and communities by protecting the rights of crime
victims and survivors;
Whereas crime victims and survivors in the United States, and the families of
those victims and survivors, need and deserve support and assistance to
help cope with the often devastating consequences of crime;
Whereas, since Congress adopted the first resolution designating Crime Victims
Week in 1985, communities across the United States have joined Congress
and the Department of Justice in commemorating National Crime Victims'
Rights Week to celebrate a shared vision of a comprehensive and
collaborative response that identifies and addresses the many needs of
crime victims and survivors and the families of those victims and
survivors;
Whereas the House of Representatives applauds the work of crime victims
advocates to ensure that all crime victims and survivors, and the
families of those victims and survivors, are--
(1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect;
(2) offered support and services, regardless of whether the victims and
survivors report crimes committed against them; and
(3) recognized as key participants within the criminal, juvenile,
Federal, and Tribal justice systems in the United States when the victims
and survivors report crimes; and
Whereas the House of Representatives recognizes and appreciate the continued
importance of--
(1) promoting the rights of, and services for, crime victims and
survivors; and
(2) honoring crime victims and survivors, and the individuals who
provide services for those victims and survivors: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports--
(A) the designation of ``National Crime Victims'
Rights Week''; and
(B) the theme of National Crime Victims' Rights
Week 2023, ``Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect
Change'', which emphasizes the importance of
encouraging survivors to--
(i) lift their voices;
(ii) inform policy and practice; and
(iii) know that they will be heard,
believed, and supported;
(2) recognizes that crime victims and survivors, and the
families of those victims and survivors, should be treated with
dignity, fairness, and respect;
(3) applauds the work carried out by thousands of victim
assistance organizations and agencies that serve crime
survivors at the local, State, Federal, and Tribal levels;
(4) remains committed to funding programs authorized by the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.) and the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.),
among other Federal programs, which help thousands of public,
community-based, and Tribal victim and survivor assistance
organizations and agencies that provide essential, and often
life-saving, services to millions of crime victims throughout
the United States; and
(5) encourages the observance of the 42d anniversary of
National Crime Victims' Rights Week with appropriate public
awareness, education, and outreach activities.
<all>