| 1 | 1 | | 87S10847 BK-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hull H.C.R. No. 15 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Domestic violence inflicts a heavy toll of physical, |
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| 7 | 7 | | emotional, and psychological damage in our communities, and the |
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| 8 | 8 | | observance of Domestic Violence Survivors' Day serves as an |
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| 9 | 9 | | opportunity to show support for those who are rebuilding their |
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| 10 | 10 | | lives after suffering abuse; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, According to a survey published by the Centers for |
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| 12 | 12 | | Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four women and one in |
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| 13 | 13 | | every nine men have experienced some form of severe domestic |
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| 14 | 14 | | violence, including physical violence, sexual violence, or |
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| 15 | 15 | | stalking, and such incidents account for 15 percent of all violent |
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| 16 | 16 | | crime; moreover, domestic violence is linked to higher rates of |
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| 17 | 17 | | depression and suicidal behavior; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Domestic abuse can go beyond physical assault to |
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| 19 | 19 | | encompass psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse; the CDC |
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| 20 | 20 | | survey found that nearly half of all adults in the United States |
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| 21 | 21 | | have experienced psychologically aggressive behavior by an |
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| 22 | 22 | | intimate partner, and abusive and controlling behaviors often |
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| 23 | 23 | | escalate over time; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, The effort to focus greater public attention on this |
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| 25 | 25 | | urgent health care issue has extended over several decades; the |
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| 26 | 26 | | National Coalition Against Domestic Violence held the initial Day |
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| 27 | 27 | | of Unity observance in October 1981, and the scope of the event |
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| 28 | 28 | | expanded in the years that followed; Domestic Violence Awareness |
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| 29 | 29 | | Month was first recognized in October 1987, and that same year the |
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| 30 | 30 | | first national toll-free hotline for victims of domestic violence |
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| 31 | 31 | | was established; Congress officially designated the month in 1989; |
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| 32 | 32 | | and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, These observances help to unite advocates in their |
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| 34 | 34 | | efforts to end domestic violence and to educate the public and |
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| 35 | 35 | | policymakers about its prevalence and its devastating impact; |
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| 36 | 36 | | perhaps most importantly, the events serve as a means to tell the |
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| 37 | 37 | | stories of those who have experienced abuse, to share the inspiring |
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| 38 | 38 | | narratives of survivors, and to provide support to those who are in |
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| 39 | 39 | | the process of healing; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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| 41 | 41 | | 1st Called Session, hereby designate the third Monday in October as |
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| 42 | 42 | | Domestic Violence Survivors' Day; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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| 44 | 44 | | 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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| 45 | 45 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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| 46 | 46 | | passed by the legislature. |
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