This resolution supports the designation of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 851 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 851
Expressing support for designation of the month of February 2020 as
``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2020
Mr. Lewis (for himself, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Norton, Ms. Kelly of
Illinois, and Ms. Johnson of Texas) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for designation of the month of February 2020 as
``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month''.
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this
resolution referred to as the ``CDC''), teen dating violence includes 4
types of behavior: (1) physical violence, (2) sexual violence, (3)
psychological aggression, and (4) stalking;
Whereas while dating violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking
affect women regardless of age, teens and young women are especially
vulnerable;
Whereas according to a study done by the National Council on Crime and
Delinquency, approximately 1 in 3 adolescent girls in the United States
is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating
partner;
Whereas 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students report having
experienced sexual dating violence in the last year;
Whereas the CDC reported that nearly 1 in 11 female teens and about 1 in 15 male
teens reported experiencing physical dating violence in the last year;
Whereas teaching teens about the consequences of intimate partner violence and
supporting the development of healthy, respectful, and nonviolent
relationships have the potential to decrease teen dating violence in
future generations;
Whereas educating middle school students and their parents about the importance
of building healthy relationships and preventing teen dating violence is
key to deterring abuse before it begins;
Whereas according to a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey of
the CDC, 80 percent of female rape victims experienced their first rape
before the age of 25, and almost half experienced their first rape
before the age of 18;
Whereas according to the same National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence
Survey, 26 percent of women and 15 percent of men who were victims of
contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate
partner in their lifetime first experienced these or other forms of
violence by that partner before the age of 18;
Whereas approximately 35 percent of women who were raped as minors were also
raped as adults;
Whereas developing healthy relationship practices and standards in youth under
the age of 18 can be critical to eliminating sexual violence and other
forms of intimate partner violence;
Whereas teen dating violence is a preventable public health crisis that can
negatively impact teens and youth in all parts of the United States;
Whereas teens who have experienced dating violence are more than twice as likely
as others to consider suicide;
Whereas the CDC indicates that there are several community factors, such as
poverty, low capital-lack of institutions, poor neighborhood support and
cohesion, weak community sanctions against intimate partner violence,
and high alcohol outlet density, that place individuals at greater risk
for perpetrating intimate partner violence;
Whereas the CDC also indicates that community factors, such as neighborhood
collective efficacy, and coordination of resources and services among
community agencies, may reduce an individual's risk of perpetrating
intimate partner violence;
Whereas primary prevention programs are a key part of addressing teen dating
violence, and many successful examples of such programs include
education, community outreach, and social marketing campaigns that are
culturally appropriate;
Whereas evidence-based programs such as the ``Coaching Boys Into Men'' program
have demonstrated that teaching adolescent men how to have healthy and
nonviolent relationships may increase positive bystander behavior and
prevent men from becoming perpetrators of teen dating violence;
Whereas the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended by the Violence
Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, includes the SMART Teen
Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Act, which improves the
coordination and effectiveness of existing programs to address abusive
youth relationships;
Whereas skilled assessment and intervention programs are necessary for youth
victims and abusers; and
Whereas the establishment of the month of February 2020 as National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness and Prevention Month will benefit schools,
communities, and families regardless of socioeconomic status, race, and
sex: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness and Prevention Month'';
(2) supports communities in empowering teens to develop
healthy relationships throughout their lives;
(3) recognizes the national impact of teen dating violence
on public health and its specific and disproportionate impact
on young women; and
(4) calls on the people of the United States, including
youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, State and local
officials, nonprofit organizations, and interested groups to
observe National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention
Month with appropriate programs and activities that promote
awareness and prevention of teen dating violence in communities
across the country.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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