Each year, approximately 80,000 Pennsylvanians are victims of domestic violence. In 2007, 93 victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania lost their lives; including nine children. Hughes recognizes that it is time to end the growing number of senseless deaths of women and children. He is a strong advocate for legislation that would focus attention on the problem of domestic violence plaguing the nation. He encourages doctors, health care professionals and the community to be more aware of the crime of domestic abuse, which remains a largely undetected and unreported crime.