HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 34

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994.

     WHEREAS, the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 recognizes the insidious and pervasive nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking and created comprehensive, effective cost-saving responses to these crimes; and

     WHEREAS, domestic violence and sexual assault affect millions of Americans every year regardless of their age, economic status, race, religion or education; and

     WHEREAS, nearly one in four women is beaten or raped by a partner during adulthood, and each year approximately two million three hundred thousand people are raped or physically assaulted by a current or former intimate partner; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico law enforcement identified twenty-one thousand three hundred sixty-eight victims of domestic violence in 2011 and six thousand two hundred nineteen children who were present and witnessed domestic violence; and 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico receives approximately one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) in funding for domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual assault and stalking program services through the Violence Against Women Act; and

     WHEREAS, it has been more than two years since the Violence Against Women Act expired;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it encourage the New Mexico congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to immediately vote in favor of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 in a bipartisan manner to protect all victims of intimate partner violence; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each member of the New Mexico congressional delegation and to the chief clerks of the United States senate and the United States house of representatives.

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