[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1575 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1575

   Expressing support for designating the week of November 4 through 
            November 10, 2024, as ``Forensic Nursing Week''.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2024

Ms. Ross submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

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                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for designating the week of November 4 through 
            November 10, 2024, as ``Forensic Nursing Week''.

Whereas forensic nurses are registered or advanced practice nurses who--

    (1) have received specialized education and training to address the 
acute and long-term health consequences of patients seeking medical care 
after being impacted by violence; and

    (2) have specific expertise in the comprehensive medical forensic 
examination (MFE) and treatment of patients who have experienced sexual 
assault, intimate partner violence, child and elder maltreatment, human 
trafficking, and accidental as well as nonaccidental trauma;

Whereas forensic nurses are often the first health care professionals to provide 
        medical care to a victim of sexual violence and routinely coordinate the 
        resources necessary for followup needs, including those involving law 
        enforcement reporting;
Whereas patients impacted by violence, exploitation, trauma, and abuse--

    (1) experience acute and long-term health consequences associated with 
that victimization; and

    (2) are more likely to experience depression, substance use, 
posttraumatic stress disorder, and other chronic conditions than the 
general population;

Whereas early health care intervention immediately following acts of violence 
        can lead to better long-term patient outcomes as well as lower overall 
        medical system costs;
Whereas it is imperative that victims of sexual or intimate partner violence are 
        guaranteed, through the Violence Against Women Act, access to 
        comprehensive medical forensic examinations, which are specialized 
        health care interventions that fully and promptly address the medical 
        needs of patients experiencing physical harm;
Whereas only approximately 25 percent of United States hospitals have Sexual 
        Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) on staff, demonstrating an emergency 
        need to implement new programs authorized by the Violence Against Women 
        Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 to increase patient access to SANEs;
Whereas the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women has published 
        an updated National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 
        Examinations: Adults/Adolescents and a new National Protocol for 
        Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations, two critical 
        resources that recognize health care providers' pivotal role in 
        enhancing public safety and facilitating survivor healing after acts of 
        violence;
Whereas forensic nurses are essential to America's response to violence because 
        they provide trauma-informed nursing care across the lifespan and in 
        diverse practice settings; and
Whereas forensic nursing has been formally recognized as a specialty practice 
        area since 1995: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``Forensic 
        Nursing Week'';
            (2) acknowledges the commitment and vital contributions of 
        forensic nurses to patient treatment and healing in the 
        aftermath of violence; and
            (3) encourages policies and actions to protect communities 
        from violence and support health care responses to sexual and 
        physical assault.
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