Authorizing City Council's Committee on Public Safety to conduct Public Hearings to examine the current regional incidence of domestic violence suffered by women and men, hear updates on measures previously taken by City Council and determine next steps needed to improve responses and increase resources addressing the issue.

WHEREAS, The impact of domestic violence continue to be wide ranging, directly affecting individuals and society as a whole, here in and around this community, throughout the United States, and the world; and

WHEREAS, City Council has been and continues to be in the forefront of recognizing how domestic violence traumatizes victims, endangers children, harms families, and threatens quality of life in our communities; and

WHEREAS, The problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group of people, but cut across all economic, racial and societal barriers, and are supported by societal indifference; and

WHEREAS, T

he National Institute of Justice and the Center for Disease Control estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are the victims of domestic violence each year; and

WHEREAS, The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) expires in September 2005, jeopardizing the remarkable gains it has generated in reducing the occurrences of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, meaning progress could come to a halt if Congress does not reauthorize VAWA; and

WHEREAS, A vast majority of Americans realize Congress should act to reauthorize and enhance existing VAWA programs and include new programs that better respond to community needs; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary for this Council and the citizens of Philadelphia to remain thoroughly informed on all issues related to the impact of domestic violence and how it directly affects our community, and to have a reliable response and resource system; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Safety is authorized to conduct Public Hearings to examine the current regional incidence of domestic violence suffered by women and men, hear updates on measures previously taken by City Council and determine next steps needed to improve responses and increase resources addressing the issue.

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