[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 164 (Sunday, December 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H12213-H12214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL TEEN DATING VIOLENCE 
                     AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WEEK

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 483) supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 483

       Whereas 1 in 3 female high school students reports being 
     physically abused or sexually abused by a dating partner;
       Whereas over 40 percent of male and female high school 
     students surveyed had been victims of dating violence at 
     least once;
       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 re-vicimization;
       Whereas the severity of violence among intimate partners 
     has been shown to increase if the pattern was established in 
     adolescence;
       Whereas 81 percent of parents surveyed either believed 
     dating violence is not a problem or admitted they did not 
     know it is a problem;
       Whereas the week of February 6, 2006, has been recognized 
     as an appropriate week for activities furthering awareness of 
     teen dating violence; and
       Whereas recognizing a ``National Teen Dating Violence 
     Awareness and Prevention Week'' would benefit schools, 
     communities, and families regardless of socioeconomic status, 
     race, or gender: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives should raise 
     awareness of teen dating violence in the Nation by supporting 
     the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence 
     Awareness and Prevention Week.

                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Issa

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

  Strike all after the resolved clause and insert the following:

       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports an 
     increased awareness among parents, schools, and communities 
     that dating violence is a criminal act and the ideals of the 
     National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Week.
  Ms. MILLENDER McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I offer heartfelt thanks to you 
for bringing this important resolution to the floor. Thanks to the 
Ranking Member as well. I join with my friend and co-sponsor, the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut, Nancy Johnson in bringing this very 
important legislation to the floor.
  I am delighted to be able to say that my colleagues in this great 
Congress understand that protecting our children from violence is of 
utmost importance and that we as a body support the ideals of National 
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Protection Week through H. Res. 483.
  Teen Dating Violence is the proverbial elephant in the room. Too many 
girls are the victims of abuse perpetrated by an intimate partner and 
yet too many parents are unaware that their daughters live with this 
tragic reality. The facts are horrifying:
  Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the 
highest per capita rates of non-fatal intimate partner violence of all 
women.
  Many of our teens report experiencing some kind of abuse in their 
romantic relationships, including verbal and emotional abuse.
  Over half of a national survey of parents either believe teen dating 
violence is not an issue or admit they don't know to what extent it is 
an issue.
  It is time to end this gap between what we believe about teen dating 
violence and what is actually happening to our sisters, daughters, and 
granddaughters in their relationships.
  The only way we will be able to combat this epidemic is if we are 
educated about it. Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week 
is a crucial step towards acquiring this knowledge.
  I am a mother of daughters and a grandmother of granddaughters. I 
hate to think of them engaged in a relationship where they may be at 
risk, emotionally, physically or mentally. But just because I do not 
want to think about this, does not mean I should not think about it.
  Through communication and further education we will take away the 
stigma of coming forward to report abuse by a partner. We learn to 
recognize the signs that our girls are in trouble. We will help victims 
leave their relationships and get the help they need to embark on 
relationships that are worthy of their greatness.
  I am passionate about this program because of its message of 
understanding and prevention, but also because teenager took it upon 
themselves to start this campaign towards consciousness on this issue.
  I have deep admiration for the young women and men who attended the 
national awareness and education summit last year and were motivated 
enough to develop toolkits for schools and propose National Teen Dating 
Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. I will be proud to stand with 
them during that week in February. These young people will be the 
future leaders of our country, and we should all applaud them!

[[Page H12214]]

  I want to thank Congresswoman Nancy Johnson for all of her help in 
ensuring that this bill received the attention it deserved and all of 
the co-sponsors who recognized the importance of this issue. I also 
want to thank Senator Mike Crapo for his leadership in the Senate. What 
a testament to the power of bipartisanship this has been, and how both 
chambers recognize the severity of this issue.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment to the 
preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas the American Bar Association's National Teen Dating 
     Violence Prevention (TDVPI) is a federally funded, 
     comprehensive program that is aimed at putting a stop to the 
     incidence of teen dating violence;
       Whereas the TDVPI together with parents, schools and 
     communities intends to positively impact the way teens view 
     and value themselves and others;
       Whereas the TDVPI is designed to teach and influence 
     appropriate interpersonal behavior by increasing the 
     knowledge and skills of our nation's youth enabling them to 
     form lasting and healthy relationships as adults; and
       Whereas the week of February 6, 2006 has been recognized as 
     an appropriate week for activities furthering awareness of 
     teen dating violence; Now, therefore, be it

  Mr. ISSA (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment to the preamble be considered as read and printed in 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Supporting 
the Ideals of National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Week''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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