HRES-846-119
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Sponsored by Al Green (D-TX)
What it does
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the goals of "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in October. It states Congress's sense that it should continue raising awareness about domestic violence and support programs aimed at ending it. It creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement.
Who benefits
Domestic violence survivors and advocacy organizations who gain symbolic recognition of the issue; nonprofit groups such as domestic violence shelters and hotlines that may cite the resolution in public awareness or fundraising efforts. No group receives new funding, legal rights, or services directly from this text.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully or negatively affected. The resolution imposes no obligations, costs, or restrictions on any individual, business, or government entity.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that formally recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month helps raise public understanding of a widespread problem, citing statistics such as more than 12 million people affected annually and over 430,000 contacts to the National Domestic Violence Hotline in 2024. They contend that congressional attention can encourage continued or increased funding for shelters, hotlines, and prevention programs that serve survivors.
Opponents argue
Critics of commemorative resolutions generally argue that such measures consume floor time and staff resources without producing any binding policy change, funding, or enforcement mechanism to actually address the problem described. They contend that meaningful progress on domestic violence requires substantive legislation and appropriations rather than nonbinding statements of support.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond the House's general authority under Article I to adopt simple resolutions expressing its sense on matters of public concern.
Checks and balances
The House alone adopts this resolution; it creates no authority for the executive or judicial branch and has no binding legal effect on any party.
Historical precedent
Congress has passed similar commemorative resolutions recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in prior years, though this measure is styled as an "original" version distinct from those.