[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H590-H591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CYBERBULLYING

  (Mr. HIMES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HIMES. Madam Speaker, this piece of paper will never be the same. 
No matter how much you try, you can't remove the marks that are left 
behind. The paper may not have ripped, but once the damage is done, the 
scars remain.
  I saw this idea on the Web site of a new organization formed in 
Ridgefield, Connecticut, Students Against Internet Discrimination, or 
SAID. SAID formed in response to anonymous bullies at Ridgefield High 
School who

[[Page H591]]

were using Twitter to attack other kids from behind a wall of 
anonymity.
  Cyberbullying, kids using the Internet to intimidate, defame, or 
attack other kids, is a growing problem.
  Sophie Needleman, a senior at Ridgefield High, decided to create an 
outlet online for the legions of supportive, helpful, and decent 
students to speak out and speak up. With a few friends, she started a 
Facebook group for Ridgefield students to counter the actions of the 
bullies. Within 48 hours, it had 1,000 concerned students and adults 
who wanted to show that bullying has no place in our schools.
  I commend the students behind Students Against Internet 
Discrimination and the entire community of support behind this growing 
movement.
  For every bully out there, there are hundreds of adults and other 
students who will support this effort and offer help. Seek out a group 
like SAID and join the effort to stop the despicable practice of 
cyberbullying.

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