[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH

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                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today 
to acknowledge my home state of Delaware for its promotion of February 
as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM).
  Dating violence amongst adolescents is a serious and sobering matter. 
In the U.S., one in three adolescent girls is a victim of physical, 
emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. In fact, females 
between the ages of 16 and 24 are the most vulnerable to intimate 
partner violence, experiencing abuse at almost triple the national 
average; a resonating two-thirds of teens who experience abuse never 
tell anyone. These statistics underscore the vital importance of 
TDVAPM--an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to raising awareness and 
promoting prevention.
  Combating the serious and often overlooked issue of teen dating 
violence begins with us. We have the power to educate and empower the 
young people in our communities and in our states. They must be given 
examples of healthy relationships. They must be taught that speaking 
out against physical and emotional abuse is crucial and necessary. 
Their attitudes must be changed away from supporting violence to 
embracing mutual respect. This is our responsibility--as elected 
officials and as parents and teachers and mentors--and these are the 
goals of TDVAPM.
  In Delaware, the Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention 
Initiative has, since its inception, been recognized as the full month 
of February, and this year marks the first time it will be recognized 
as such on a national level. Since 2006, Delaware schools and 
organizations have been partnering together for this worthy cause, 
demonstrating a commitment to ending teen dating violence and 
supporting the victims and survivors among us.
  Delaware's Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month 
Planning Committee, along with Child, Inc., the Delaware Coalition 
against Domestic Violence and the Delaware Victims' Rights Task Force, 
work diligently to not only raise public awareness, but provide young 
people with the resources they need to receive help and to break the 
cycle of violence. Today, I wish to thank and recognize these groups 
and the many other organizations and individuals involved in this 
initiative. They are proof that prevention is possible--through 
empowerment and education.

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