Rep. Cox offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 258.

            A resolution to declare April 2016 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is intended to draw attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every community; and

            Whereas, Sexual assault is broadly defined as any form of unwanted sexual contact obtained without consent through the use of force, threat of force, intimidation, or coercion; and

            Whereas, Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment impact our community as seen by statistics indicating that one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives; and

            Whereas, Child sexual abuse prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before the age 18; and

            Whereas, Michigan State Police statistics indicate that 11,873 sexual assault related offences were reported to law enforcement in 2013; and

            Whereas, Sexual violence can deeply and enduringly impact survivors on psychological, emotional, and social levels; and

            Whereas, Access to informed and supportive services can greatly increase survivors’ ability to heal from sexual assault; and

            Whereas, Our state and individual communities must be committed to hold sexual assault perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes; and

            Whereas, We must work together to educate our community about sexual violence prevention, supporting survivors, and speaking out against harmful attitudes and actions; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare April 2016 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.