WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) joined U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to introduce their bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month to raise awareness about the dangers of stalking. Approximately 1 in 6 women in the U.S. have experienced stalking at some point in their lives.
“During National Stalking Awareness Month, we must redouble our efforts to improve the prevention and response to all forms of stalking, and send a clear message to predators that they will be held accountable for their abhorrent crimes,” said Fitzpatrick. “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.”
“As we all spend more time online, we must do more to crack down on online stalking and other predatory behaviors,” said Murphy. “I’m honored to partner with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Chuck Grassley, as well as my colleague Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick in the House, to introduce this bipartisan resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month and sharing information with partners across Florida and the country about how to keep our communities, and especially our kids, safe."
“Millions of our fellow Americans have been victims of stalking. Oftentimes their stories involve years-long episodes, drastic changes to their lives to secure their safety and sadly other criminal activity by stalkers. This month is a time for us all to reflect on the pervasiveness of stalking and the serious hardships and dangers faced by victims. The work of advocates raising awareness, of law enforcement and courts taking preventive and punitive action and of service workers in providing help to victims are all worthy of our thanks,” Grassley said.
“As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking can take on victims,” Klobuchar said. “This resolution will raise awareness about the dangers of stalking, the need to ensure that victims are protected, and the resources available to help survivors get their lives back on track.”
Fitzpatrick and Murphy introduced this resolution in the House in the wake of their bipartisan bill, the Combat Online Predators Act, being signed into law in December 2020. The law increases federal criminal penalties for adults who are convicted of stalking minors, whether that stalking takes place in cyberspace or in the community.
The resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month passed the Senate on January 13, 2022.
The full text of the resolution can be found here.
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