A bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) aims to raise awareness about the roughly one-in-six American women victimized by a stalker.
“I am proud to support this bipartisan resolution, which will work to raise awareness regarding the serious dangers of stalking, emphasize the protection of victims, and help survivors recover and heal,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.
Rep. Fitzpatrick on Jan. 11 sponsored House Resolution (H.Res.) 865 with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), while U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on Jan. 13 introduced the identical Senate Resolution 491 in their chamber to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of stalking. The U.S. Senate on Jan. 13 gave unanimous consent to the resolution. H.Res. 865 is under consideration in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
The resolution states that an estimated six million to seven million Americans report annually that they have been victims of stalking, with more than 85 percent of them reporting that they had been stalked by someone they knew, according to the text of the resolution.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the risk of online stalking and harassment, particularly among school-aged individuals, the resolution states.
If enacted, the resolution would, among several provisions:
- Support service providers, police, prosecutors, national and community organizations, campuses, and private-sector supporters in promoting awareness of stalking;
- Encourage policymakers, criminal justice officials, victim service and human service agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits to increase awareness of stalking and to continue the availability of services for victims of stalking; and
- Urge national and community organizations, private-sector businesses and the media to promote awareness of the crime of stalking through National Stalking Awareness Month, the text says.
“During National Stalking Awareness Month, we must redouble our efforts to improve the prevention and response to all forms of stalking,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, “and send a clear message to predators that they will be held accountable for their abhorrent crimes.”