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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Every October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month |
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mobilizes people around the country to join in efforts to end |
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domestic violence in their communities; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 10 million women and men are physically |
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abused by an intimate partner in the United States each year; |
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domestic violence encompasses a pattern of behaviors used to gain |
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or maintain power and control over a victim, and in many cases, |
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physical violence reinforces other forms of psychological and |
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emotional abuse such as threats, intimidation, and isolation; |
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severe intimate partner violence can include instances of physical |
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assault, rape, and stalking that leave victims with injuries, |
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post-traumatic stress disorder, and other lasting impacts; and |
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WHEREAS, While young women are most frequently the victims of |
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intimate partner violence, women, men, and children of every age, |
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race, background, and circumstance can fall victim to abuse at the |
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hands of a family member; the damage caused by domestic violence |
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extends beyond direct victims to include children who are witnesses |
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to violence in their own homes, and studies have shown that children |
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exposed to family violence are at higher risk for mental health |
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conditions like anxiety and depression, for developing substance |
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abuse disorders and certain diseases in adulthood, and for becoming |
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either a victim or a perpetrator of abuse themselves; and |
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WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the |
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"Day of Unity" first observed by the National Coalition Against |
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Domestic Violence in October 1981; the goal of the observance was to |
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connect advocates across the nation who were working to break the |
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cycle of domestic violence and abuse, and it soon expanded into an |
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entire week of activities at the local, state, and national levels; |
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the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month took place in October |
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1987, the same year that the first national toll-free hotline for |
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victims of domestic violence was established; and |
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WHEREAS, During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, |
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advocates, supporters, and survivors gather together to raise |
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public awareness of domestic violence, to celebrate the progress |
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that has been made, and to call attention to the work that must be |
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done to protect future victims of this devastating crime; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 2023 as |
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month and encourage Texans to learn |
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more about how they can stand up against domestic violence in their |
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communities. |