This is a non-binding House resolution introduced in the 119th Congress to support National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and designate the resolution’s short title as the Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2025. It catalogs extensive findings about the scope and impact of domestic violence and calls on Congress to continue raising awareness and supporting programs designed to end domestic violence in the United States.
The measure does not create new funding or enforceable obligations, but it signals federal intent and can shape future policy conversations. The resolution’s long list of findings reinforces the argument that awareness, coordinated services, and education are essential components of addressing domestic violence, including housing, economic stability, and access to services for survivors.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill expresses support for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urges Congress to continue raising awareness and supporting programs aimed at ending domestic violence.
Who It Affects
The resolution directly engages federal policymakers, domestic violence advocates, shelters, and victim-service organizations, as well as communities impacted by violence.
Why It Matters
As a symbolic, non-binding measure, it signals ongoing federal attention to domestic violence issues and can influence future funding priorities and policy discussions without imposing new requirements.
More articles like this one.
A weekly email with all the latest developments on this topic.
What This Bill Actually Does
The measure is a non-binding resolution (H.Res.846) in the 119th Congress that publicly supports October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It designates the resolution’s short title as the Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2025 and frames the observance as a matter of national importance.
The document then proceeds through a broad series of formal findings (the “Whereas” clauses) that describe the prevalence of domestic violence, its varied impacts on women, men, and different communities, and the economic and social costs of abuse. These findings emphasize the need for education, access to shelter, housing stability, and coordinated services for victims and survivors.
Section 2 finishes by stating the House’s intent to support the observance and to keep raising awareness while backing programs designed to end domestic violence in the United States. The resolution does not authorize new funding or establish enforceable duties; its value lies in signaling a shared federal stance and shaping the policy conversation around resources and outreach for survivors and service providers.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill is a non-binding House resolution (H.Res. 846) in the 119th Congress recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Section 1 provides the official short title: Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2025.
Section 2 expresses House support for the observance and calls on Congress to continue raising awareness and backing programs to end domestic violence.
The document relies on extensive ‘Whereas’ findings to illustrate prevalence, impacts, and the need for services and education.
No new funding or binding obligations are created; the measure is ceremonial but can influence future policy discussions.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Short title
Section 1 sets forth the formal short title by which the measure may be cited: the Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2025. This provision is primarily definitional and ceremonial, establishing naming conventions for reference and discussion.
Support and observance
Section 2 states the House’s intent to support the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to continue raising awareness and supporting programs designed to end domestic violence in the United States. As a non-binding sentiment, it does not create new mandates or funding but signals congressional priority and moral suasion for survivor services and outreach.
This bill is one of many.
Codify tracks hundreds of bills on Social Services across all five countries.
Explore Social Services in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Domestic violence survivors and their families gain from official recognition that emphasizes ongoing support and access to resources.
- Domestic violence shelters and victim-service organizations benefit from enhanced legitimacy and the potential for future funding emphasis driven by increased public awareness.
- Healthcare providers and social-service networks may gain from stronger referral channels and integrated care signals that awareness campaigns can catalyze.
- Community organizations, educators, and local officials involved in outreach benefit from formal federal backing for observance activities and education efforts.
Who Bears the Cost
- No direct new expenditures are authorized by this non-binding resolution, so the federal cost burden is effectively zero.
- Congressional staff time and resources devoted to processing, debate, and publication of the resolution represent a modest, non-fiscal cost of administrative work.
- State and local governments face no mandated spending or obligations from this measure; any costs would stem only from voluntary, locally driven observances.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central tension is between the aspirational, awareness-raising function of a symbolic resolution and the practical need for funded, enforceable policies to reduce domestic violence. The bill frames a moral imperative and sets a tone for future policy debates, but it must be paired with concrete actions (funding, programs, and reforms) to translate sentiment into tangible outcomes for survivors.
The bill’s value lies in its symbolic power: it publicly acknowledges the problem of domestic violence, elevates its importance on the national agenda, and signals a commitment to future action. However, because it is a resolution, it creates no new legal duties or funding streams, which means its impact depends on how advocates, agencies, and lawmakers translate this sentiment into concrete policy and resources.
The extensive array of findings underscores the scale and complexity of domestic violence, including housing needs, economic pressures, education, and health impacts, but without budgetary or regulatory commitments, converting awareness into durable change will require separate legislative or administrative steps.
Try it yourself.
Ask a question in plain English, or pick a topic below. Results in seconds.