First Regular Session Seventy-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. R23-0961.01 Frank Stoner x5498 SR23-006 Senate Committees SENATE RESOLUTION 23-006 C ONCERNING MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS MONTH.101 WHEREAS, Sexual assault in the United States of America is a1 pervasive and devastating issue. It impacts every corner of our society,2 and it is inexcusable at any time, place, or circumstance; and3 WHEREAS, Most sexual assaults go unreported, and the victims4 of those assaults often go untreated and are left feeling trapped; and5 WHEREAS, Military service members in the United States6 Department of Defense, as well as service members in the United States7 Department of Homeland Security, have experienced and continue to8 experience sexual assault; and9 WHEREAS, In August 2022, the United States Department of10 Defense reported that 8.4 percent of active duty women indicated an11 incident of unwanted sexual contact during the year prior to the survey.12 That 8.4 percent represents approximately 19,466 women; and13 WHEREAS, The United States Department of Defense also14 reported that 1.5 percent of active duty men indicated an incident of15 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Marchman, Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. unwanted sexual contact during the year prior to the survey. That 1.51 percent represents approximately 16,617 men; and2 WHEREAS, Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy in3 Colorado Springs reported 52 incidents of unwanted sexual contact4 during the 2021-22 school year, and a number of reports show increasing5 incidents of sexual assault and other unwanted sexual contact at military6 academies across the country; and7 WHEREAS, Such behavior is intolerable, especially among those8 for whom a strict moral code and a cohesive unit are of the utmost9 importance. Both are adversely impacted by any such egregious acts upon10 fellow service members; and11 WHEREAS, We commend survivors for their perseverance and12 celebrate the successes many have had despite their traumatic13 experiences; and14 WHEREAS, Some survivors have established outreach networks15 to engage with and support other survivors, and some have taken up the16 mantle of advocating for survivors at the highest levels of both the17 military and the government; and18 WHEREAS, Still others face their daily lives head-on and19 persevere with grit and determination, carrying out their daily20 responsibilities and service; and21 WHEREAS, We acknowledge April 2023 as Military Sexual22 Assault Survivors Month; now, therefore,23 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fourth General24 Assembly of the State of Colorado:25 That we, the members of the Colorado Senate, acknowledge April26 2023 as Military Sexual Assault Survivors Month in respectful27 recognition of the struggles face by thousands of military sexual assault28 survivors.29 Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the30 Colorado National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, the Air31 Force Academy, Protect Our Defenders, and Hope After MST.32 SR23-006 -2-