[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 160 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11806-H11808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 762) supporting the goals of 
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 762

       Whereas bullying among school-aged children is aggressive 
     behavior that is intentional, often involves an imbalance of 
     power or strength, and is typically repeated over time;
       Whereas by some estimates, millions of students are bullied 
     each year;
       Whereas bullying can take many forms, including hitting or 
     punching; teasing or name-calling; intimidating through 
     gestures or social exclusion, and sending insulting, 
     threatening, or offensive messages or images via e-mail, 
     text, telephone, or other electronic means;
       Whereas there is no single cause of bullying among school-
     aged children; rather, individual, familial, peer, school, 
     and community factors may place a child or youth at risk of 
     bullying his or her peers;
       Whereas a majority of parents, students, and educators 
     report that bullying and harassment are issues of major 
     concern;
       Whereas school-aged children who are bullied are more 
     likely than other children to be depressed, lonely, or 
     anxious; have low self-esteem; be absent from school; have 
     more physical complaints, such as headaches and stomach 
     aches; and think about suicide;
       Whereas bullying others may be an early sign of other 
     serious antisocial or violent behavior or both;
       Whereas school-aged children who frequently bully their 
     peers are more likely than their peers to get into frequent 
     fights, be injured in a fight, vandalize or steal property, 
     drink alcohol, smoke, be truant from school, drop out of 
     school, or carry a weapon;
       Whereas harassment and bullying have been linked to 75 
     percent of school shooting incidents, including the fatal 
     shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, Santana High 
     School in California, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute 
     and State University (Virginia Tech);
       Whereas the stresses of being bullied or harassed can 
     interfere with student's engagement and learning in school 
     and may have a negative impact on student learning;
       Whereas research indicates that bullying at school can be 
     significantly reduced through comprehensive, school-wide 
     programs designed to change norms for behavior; and
       Whereas National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is 
     October 21 through October 27: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes that bullying of school-aged children is a 
     national concern;
       (2) recognizes that bullying is unhealthy for our families 
     and communities;
       (3) commends the efforts of national and community 
     organizations, schools, parents,

[[Page H11807]]

     recreation programs, and religious institutions for their 
     efforts to promote greater public awareness about bullying 
     and prevention activities; and
       (4) supports the goals of National Bullying Prevention 
     Awareness Week.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 762 into 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mrs. McCARTHY of New York asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of National 
Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.
  Bullying among children is aggressive behavior that is intentional 
and often repeated over time. It is estimated that 3.2 million students 
are bullied each year. These children that are victims of bullying 
often have a hard time defending themselves. They are the target of 
hitting, teasing, name-calling, intimidation and social exclusion. With 
the arrival of the digital age, bullying is taking place over e-mail in 
online communities such as MySpace and Facebook.
  There is no single cause of bullying among school children. Several 
factors can make a child the target of aggressive bullying. What we do 
know is that students with disabilities and special needs are more 
often targeted by bullies. Overweight and obese children are also far 
more likely to be the victims of bullying. This weight-based teasing 
often causes body image issues with the children, sometimes leading to 
depression and even suicide. Bullying can often be a sign of serious 
antisocial behavior, and many children who bully are often dealing with 
issues in their home life.
  We have all seen the horrors that can occur when bullying does go 
unchecked. The students at Columbine High School were the subjects of 
constant bullying. We are all aware of what happened when they reached 
their breaking point.
  Congress cannot sit and wait for another tragedy to occur before we 
act. That is why I have introduced, with my colleague, today's 
resolution. The resolution recognizes this week as National Bullying 
Prevention Awareness Week, and commends the many programs and 
organizations that do great work in preventing the cycle of bullying.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 762, 
supporting the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.
  According to the Health Resources and Services Administration of the 
United States Department of Health and Human Services, bullying is 
aggressive behavior that is intentional, repeated over time, and 
involves an imbalance of power or strength.
  In practical terms, bullying happens when one child purposely hurts, 
scares or intimidates another. Bullying can seriously affect the mental 
and physical health as well as the academic work of children who are 
targeted.
  Bullying can take place face to face, online or through other types 
of technology, such as text messaging over cell phones. The person 
being bullied has a difficult time defending himself or herself and 
feels victimized or abused. Usually bullying happens repeatedly, and 
studies show that between 15 and 25 percent of U.S. students are 
bullied with some frequency.
  Bullying is prevalent, and children are concerned about it. In a 2003 
Harris poll of 8- to 17-year-old girls commissioned by the Girl Scouts 
of America, bullying topped girls' lists of concerns regarding their 
safety. When asked what they worried most about, the common response 
was being socially ostracized, being made fun of, or being teased. To 
protect kids who are bullied, parents and adults must understand what 
bullying is, how harmful it can be, and the best ways to stop bullying 
behaviors.
  According to the American Psychological Association, the most 
effective prevention strategies are comprehensive in nature, involving 
the entire school as a community working to change the climate of the 
school and norms of behavior. It's crucial that parents, educators and 
administrators, health care professionals and researchers work together 
to reduce bullying. Campaigns are taking place in the U.S. and abroad 
to teach children that they play an important role in the prevention of 
bullying and to raise awareness of the problem among adults. Children 
should feel comfortable in their communities and in their schools. They 
should not have to fear harassment, abuse or exclusion. We must 
continue to support efforts to combat bullying.
  I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) for introducing 
this resolution. I ask for my colleagues' support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague 
from New York (Mr. Kuhl) for his work in working on this bipartisan 
agreement.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to Congresswoman Linda Sanchez from 
California, who has been working on this issue for many, many years.

                              {time}  1600

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
strong support of this resolution, supporting the goals of National 
Bullying Prevention Week. It is time that we recognize that bullying is 
a serious problem and support our local communities in their attempts 
to address it.
  Contrary to what is sadly still popular belief, bullying is neither a 
minor nuisance nor something to be laughed off. It is not a rite of 
passage, but instead an aggressive interference with a child's right to 
go to school, to learn, and to play in safety. Although any child may 
be bullied, some children face much greater risks than others. Children 
whom others perceive to be gay or lesbian are especially at risk, as 
are children who are obese.
  Just what kind of dangers do these children face? Here are just two 
stories of students bullied on the basis of their sexual orientation.
  One California student was recently subjected to verbal harassment 
and name-calling by students and teachers, spit on in school hallways, 
subjected to sexually suggestive touching, and even referred to an 
independent study program, as if the bullying and harassment were the 
victim's fault.
  A Kentucky student received death threats, repeated unwanted sexual 
contact, offensive and hostile verbal abuse, and sexual intimidation 
and humiliation, including sexually explicit graffiti on the school 
parking lot depicting two male figures engaged in a sexual act with the 
student's name above the picture.
  It is regrettable that not all my colleagues agree that all adults 
should be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or 
gender identity. But surely we can agree that all children deserve to 
be protected from abuse.
  As many as three-quarters of school shooting incidents have been 
linked to bullying and harassment. We know that the shooters in the 
Columbine High School and Virginia Tech tragedies were bullying 
victims.
  Yet, even in the face of this evidence, many communities have still 
failed to take action against bullying. It is time for us to stop 
making excuses for aggressive behavior. Instead of letting our most 
vulnerable young people fend for themselves, we, as adults, must help 
schools address this problem. We must get the word out that bullying is 
never okay.
  Kids can't succeed in school if they're being bullied and harassed.
  I'm pleased to be able to honor today a wide variety of groups that 
are working to help parents, schools, and communities combat bullying 
and harassment.
  I also honor those that teach children how to nonviolently defend 
themselves against bullying, whether in person or via electronic means 
such as e-

[[Page H11808]]

mail, telephone, or text message. For example, nonprofit groups like i-
SAFE, TeenAngels, and TweenAngels have developed curricula that help 
children and youth stay safe online. And the National PTA and the 
American Psychological Association have provided instrumental support 
for efforts to assist local schools in their attempts to create a 
safer, bullying-free environment.
  I am so pleased that Congress is working in a bipartisan way to 
advance this resolution, which recognizes that bullying and harassment 
are violent and damaging behaviors that we can and must address.
  Additionally, I am pleased that Chairman George Miller and Ranking 
Member Buck McKeon of the Education and Labor Committee have already 
gone a step farther. In their No Child Left Behind reauthorization 
discussion draft, they have included language that will ensure that 
schools can use their Safe and Drug Free Schools funding to reduce 
bullying and harassment.
  I ask my colleagues to join me, not only in supporting this 
resolution, but also in supporting other legislation that would protect 
our children and youth from bullying and harassment. No student should 
be denied full access to education as a result of the fear and 
intimidation that stems from instances of bullying and harassment. All 
our children deserve to be safe.
  I want to commend again the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) 
for her work on this resolution. Thank you.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I might inquire as to whether or 
not the gentlewoman from New York has any additional speakers.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, we have no more speakers.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I would thank the gentlewoman 
for bringing this resolution to the floor once again, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, we have heard some points 
about bullying in our schools across America. Recently, the Girl Scouts 
of America had actually done a survey. In my home district, they asked 
their Girl Scouts and their Brownies on addressing bullying and asked 
if any of them had participated in it. They were actually shocked at 
how many of their girls, Girl Scouts, actually participated in 
bullying.
  I think that when we look at bullying today, it is an issue that 
teachers, parents, students themselves need to be educated on. With 
that, I am hoping that this resolution will go forward so people are 
aware. Bullying cannot be tolerated. It does hurt our young people. It 
certainly hurts their self-image. It is something that we need to face.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California). The 
question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New York 
(Mrs. McCarthy) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution, H. Res. 762.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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