Substitute for House Resolution No. 149.

            A resolution to declare October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The National Coalition against Domestic Violence estimates that 1 in every 3 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime; and

            Whereas, An estimated 4.7 million women are victims of physical violence each year; and

            Whereas, Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to police and less than one-fifth of victims reporting an injury from intimate partner violence sought medical treatment following the injury; and

            Whereas, One-third of female homicide victims reported in police records are killed by an intimate partner; and

            Whereas, The economic impact of domestic violence exceeds $8.3 billion each year; and

            Whereas, Domestic violence affects people of all ages, races, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. We encourage all Michiganders to work together to help end abuse by recognizing the signs of violence and supporting those impacted by domestic assault; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, My Sister’s Place, Turning Point, Inc., First Step, End Violent Encounters, the Capital Area Response Effort, Governor Snyder, and the Michigan Department of Community Health.