H.Res. 895

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 895 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 895

Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2025, through 
December 20, 2025, as ``National Survivors of Homicide Victims 
Awareness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 19, 2025

Ms. Pressley (for herself, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Costa) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2025, through 
December 20, 2025, as ``National Survivors of Homicide Victims 
Awareness Month''.

Whereas the United States faces a national public health crisis of gun violence;
Whereas, on average, more than 22,000 homicides each year continue to rob 
families and communities of loved ones;
Whereas homicides increased by 30 percent in 2020, compounding the many deaths 
caused by COVID-19;
Whereas for every 1 homicide victim, there are at least 10 surviving family 
members, and the number of survivors of homicide victims grows 
exponentially each year as they navigate life after the tragic loss of 
their loved one;
Whereas homicide victims are loved and grieved by family members, friends, 
neighbors, classmates, colleagues, and communities across the country;
Whereas, in the United States, almost 1 in 4 adults who are Black or Latinx 
report having lost a loved one to gun-related homicide;
Whereas losing a loved one to homicide is one of the most traumatic events an 
individual can experience;
Whereas, in the United States, homicide is the leading cause of death for Black 
teenagers and the second leading cause of death for teenagers overall;
Whereas more than \1/2\ of women who are victims of homicides are killed because 
of intimate partner violence;
Whereas 40 percent of homicides in the United States go unsolved;
Whereas homicide results in chronic physical and behavioral health consequences 
that carry significant behavioral and economic burdens on families and 
communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss;
Whereas all families of homicide victims deserve to be treated with dignity and 
compassion;
Whereas surviving family members need holistic, coordinated, compassionate, and 
consistent support and services in the immediate aftermath of a homicide 
and ongoing opportunities for healing in the months and years afterward;
Whereas surviving family members want to remember and honor the lives of their 
loved ones regardless of the circumstances surrounding their death;
Whereas survivors of homicide victims are transforming their pain into purpose 
by informing, influencing, and impacting public policy, and working to 
create and sustain an environment where all families can live in peace 
and all people are valued;
Whereas survivors, advocates, and providers are working together to implement 
equitable and effective community-based responses to homicide;
Whereas the leadership of surviving family and community members is essential to 
disrupting cycles of violence and promoting peace in all communities; 
and
Whereas recognition of the needs of survivors can help combat trauma, foster 
healing, and inform joy for families and communities impacted by 
homicide: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month'';
(2) supports efforts to--
(A) raise awareness of survivors of homicide 
victims;
(B) support survivors of homicide victims, 
including families, schools, and communities, with 
support services and information; and
(C) encourage research to--
(i) better address the needs of families 
and communities severely impacted by violence;
(ii) consider ways to improve access to, 
and the quality of, behavioral health services 
for survivors of homicide victims; and
(iii) take action to raise the national 
homicide clearance rate, which has remained 
near 50 percent and is among the lowest in the 
developed world; and
(3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
groups, and affected persons--
(A) to promote awareness of survivors of homicide 
victims;
(B) to take an active role in the fight to end gun 
violence and homicide;
(C) to respond to all families suffering in the 
aftermath of homicide with consistency, compassion, and 
competence and by centering the principles of love, 
unity, faith, hope, courage, justice, and forgiveness; 
and
(D) to observe National Survivors of Homicide 
Victims Awareness Month with appropriate activities.
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