Image still from Senate floor speech

Senator Jerry Moran marked October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, emphasizing the ongoing impact of abuse on individuals, families, and communities across Kansas and the nation.

Domestic violence often remains hidden, Sen. Moran said, but it affects millions of Americans each year.

“The statistics regarding domestic violence are staggering. Domestic violence that occurs between partners, girlfriends and boyfriends, husbands and wives, affects more than 12 million people every year,” said Sen. Moran. “On a typical day, every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted in the United States. In Kansas, law enforcement reports only 22,000 incidents of domestic violence annually. These aren’t statistics from far away places. They reflect our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members.”

Sen. Moran praised organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting survivors. He cited Hope Unlimited in Kansas and Iowa, which works with law enforcement and first responders to provide safety and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

“Across Kansas, similar organizations like Safe Home in Johnson County, Stepstone in Wichita, the crisis center in Manhattan are helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and safety. Domestic violence is more than a law enforcement or a policy issue. Each of us can and must play a role in ending it.”

Pointing to federal support, Sen. Moran noted programs like the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant, which helps survivors navigate the justice system. He stressed that domestic violence is not just a policy or law enforcement issue, but a societal one requiring constant attention. Sen. Moran encouraged Kansans and Americans to speak out against violence and support survivors every month of the year.