PRINTER'S NO. 3754
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 561
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, LABS, MAJOR, MIHALEK, TOMLINSON, GREINER,
GUENST AND SCHEUREN, OCTOBER 9, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of January 2025 as "Stalking Awareness
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Stalking is a significant issue in the United States
4 that affects millions of people every year; and
5 WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
6 Prevention, approximately one in three women and one in six men
7 in the United States experience stalking at some point in their
8 lives; and
9 WHEREAS, The Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource
10 Center estimates that 13.5 million people are stalked every year
11 in the United States; and
12 WHEREAS, The majority of stalking victims in the United
13 States are threatened with physical harm; and
14 WHEREAS, With the rise of digital technology and the use of
15 social media platforms, cyberstalking has become increasingly
16 prevalent enabling stalkers to monitor, harass and intimidate
17 victims from a distance often anonymously and across various
18 online spaces; and
 1 WHEREAS, Stalking victims often experience heightened
2 anxiety, fear and a pervasive sense of dread; and
3 WHEREAS, The stress and trauma experienced by victims of
4 stalking can lead to depression, feelings of hopelessness,
5 sadness and withdrawal from social interactions; and
6 WHEREAS, January 2024 marked the 20th annual National
7 Stalking Awareness Month, an annual call to action to recognize
8 and counter the crime of stalking; and
9 WHEREAS, Public recognition can empower stalking victims by
10 validating their experiences and encouraging them to report
11 stalking behavior to law enforcement; and
12 WHEREAS, By recognizing January 2025 as "Stalking Awareness
13 Month," the General Assembly can inform and educate the public
14 about the crime of stalking, its prevalence in this
15 Commonwealth, its impact on victims and the various resources
16 and support systems available to assist and protect victims;
17 therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
19 month of January 2025 as "Stalking Awareness Month" in
20 Pennsylvania; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commit to raising
22 awareness and providing resources to support and protect victims
23 of stalking in this Commonwealth.
20240HR0561PN3754 - 2 -