S.Res. 698

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 698 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 698

Recognizing April 29, 2026, as ``Denim Day'' and honoring survivors of 
sexual assault.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 29, 2026

Ms. Baldwin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Recognizing April 29, 2026, as ``Denim Day'' and honoring survivors of 
sexual assault.

Whereas sexual assault affects individuals of every age, race, gender, 
socioeconomic background, and community across the United States;
Whereas Denim Day began following a 1998 decision by the Italian Supreme Court 
that overturned a rape conviction based on the victim's clothing, 
prompting widespread outrage and a call to action;
Whereas, in response, members of the California Senate wore denim on the steps 
of the capital in solidarity with the survivor and to protest 
misconceptions surrounding sexual violence;
Whereas Executive Director/CEO of Peace Over Violence Patti Giggans founded 
Denim Day in 1999;
Whereas Peace Over Violence, a Los Angeles-based sexual and domestic violence, 
intimate partner stalking, child abuse, and youth violence prevention 
center has continuously advocated for survivors of such violence since 
its inception in 1971, providing emergency, intervention, prevention, 
education, and advocacy services in Los Angeles and the West San Gabriel 
Valley;
Whereas Denim Day has since grown into a national and international movement led 
by Peace Over Violence, encouraging communities to make a social 
statement with their fashion statement and wear denim as a visible means 
of protest against victim-blaming and harmful myths and lies about 
sexual assault, occurring annually the last Wednesday of April during 
Sexual Assault Awareness Month;
Whereas wearing denim on Denim Day is a symbol of solidarity with survivors of 
sexual assault and serves as a statement that clothing, behavior, or 
appearance never constitutes consent;
Whereas wearing denim on Denim Day spreads the signature Denim Day message that 
states there is no excuse and someone's clothing, behavior, or 
appearance is never an invitation to harass, abuse, assault, or rape;
Whereas Denim Day is a call to action for survivors to be heard, respected, and 
have access to trauma-informed services, healing, and justice;
Whereas, in the United States, over half of women and almost 1 in 3 men have 
experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their 
lifetime;
Whereas more than 4 in 5 female rape survivors reported that they were first 
raped before age 25, and almost half were first raped as a minor;
Whereas recent estimates put the lifetime cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, 
including medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice activities, 
and other costs;
Whereas, every 68 seconds somewhere in the United States, someone is sexually 
assaulted, and every 9 minutes that victim is a child;
Whereas nearly 1 in 10 women has been raped by an intimate partner;
Whereas 6 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone who knew the victim;
Whereas 82 percent of sexual assaults committed by a friend or acquaintance are 
not reported to the police;
Whereas only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison;
Whereas 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college;
Whereas 15,000 to 19,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each 
year in the United States;
Whereas 1 out of 10 rape victims are men;
Whereas 44 percent of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 18;
Whereas victims of sexual assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from 
depression, 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress 
disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 26 times more likely to 
abuse drugs, and 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide;
Whereas 47 percent of transgender people are sexually assaulted at some point in 
their life;
Whereas sexual violence affects Black women at disproportionately high rates;
Whereas more than 20 percent of Black women are raped during their lifetimes, a 
higher share than among women overall, which is 18 percent;
Whereas 56.1 percent and over 1,500,000 American Indian and Alaska Native women 
have experienced sexual violence;
Whereas it is essential to raise awareness about sexual violence in all its 
forms, promote prevention efforts, support survivor-centered policies, 
and foster a culture of respect, dignity, and accountability; and
Whereas recognizing Denim Day provides an opportunity to reaffirm Congress's 
commitment to supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable, and 
advancing education and resources to prevent sexual violence: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes April 29, 2026, as ``Denim Day'' and 
supports the goals and ideals of Denim Day to raise awareness 
of sexual assault and combat victim-blaming;
(2) honors the strength, resilience, and courage of 
survivors of sexual assault and affirms the right of all 
individuals to live free from violence, harassment, and abuse;
(3) expresses solidarity with survivors and their families, 
and supports their access to comprehensive, trauma-informed, 
culturally competent services, including medical care, mental 
health support, legal assistance, and advocacy;
(4) reaffirms that clothing, appearance, or behavior never 
constitute consent and condemns all forms of victim-blaming;
(5) supports efforts to improve the reporting, 
investigation, and prosecution of sexual assault cases while 
ensuring survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches 
throughout the justice process;
(6) recognizes the importance of addressing disparities in 
sexual violence affecting marginalized and vulnerable 
populations, including teenagers, children, women of color, 
Indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, and 
LGBTQIA2+ individuals;
(7) calls on Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
governments to strengthen policies, funding, and programs that 
prevent sexual violence and support survivors; and
(8) urges continued collaboration among policymakers, 
advocacy organizations, law enforcement, and communities to end 
sexual violence and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
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