[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 621 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 621

    Designating the week of February 5 through February 9, 2007, as 
    ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 16, 2006

Mr. Crapo (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Murkowski, and 
Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION



    Designating the week of February 5 through February 9, 2007, as 
    ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week''.

Whereas 1 in 3 female teens in a dating relationship have feared for their 
        physical safety;
Whereas 1 in 2 teens in serious relationships have compromised their beliefs to 
        please their partner;
Whereas nearly 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship said their 
        boyfriend or girlfriend would threaten to hurt themselves or their 
        partner if there was a breakup;
Whereas 1 in 5 teens in a serious relationship report they have been hit, 
        slapped, or pushed by a partner;
Whereas more than 1 in 4 teens have been in a relationship where their partner 
        verbally abuses them;
Whereas 13 percent of Hispanic teens reported that hitting a partner was 
        permissible;
Whereas 29 percent of girls who have been in a relationship said they have been 
        pressured to have sex or engage in sex they did not want;
Whereas nearly 50 percent of girls worry that their partner would break up with 
        them if they did not agree to engage in sex;
Whereas Native American women experience higher rates of interpersonal violence 
        than any other population group;
Whereas violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for 
        victims who are at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, 
        risky sexual behavior, suicide, and adult revictimization;
Whereas the severity of violence among intimate partners has been shown to 
        increase if the pattern has been established in adolescence;
Whereas 81 percent of parents surveyed either believe dating violence is not an 
        issue or admit they do not know if it is an issue; and
Whereas the establishment of the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and 
        Prevention Week will benefit schools, communities, and families 
        regardless of socio-economic status, race, or sex: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of February 5 through February 9, 
        2007, as ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and 
        Prevention Week''; and
            (2) calls upon the people of the United States, high 
        schools, law enforcement, State and local officials, and 
        interested groups, to observe National Teen Dating Violence 
        Awareness and Prevention Week with appropriate programs and 
        activities that promote awareness and prevention of the crime 
        of teen dating violence in their communities.
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