[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14976]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


            IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of National 
Bullying Prevention Month because every American is entitled to live, 
work, and recreate in a safe environment, free of fear from threats to 
his or her physical safety and emotional security.
  Unfortunately, in recent years we have witnessed a dramatic increase 
in the number of reported and unreported cases of bullying. In fact, 
thirteen million children will be bullied this year alone. It is 
estimated that 15 percent of American school children skip school to 
avoid being bullied by their schoolmates. This is tragic as school 
should be a safe environment conducive to learning.
  Mr. Speaker, bullying does not end when our children move on from the 
playground. It exists on college campuses, in the workplace, online, 
and even in elderly care facilities. Nearly half of Americans have 
experienced some sort of violence either in their workplace, at home, 
or in their community. Hazing on college campuses has also been a 
problem for decades. Five percent of all college students admit to 
being hazed, with 40 percent admitting that a coach or advisor was 
aware of the hazing and did not intervene.
  Mr. Speaker, this month, organizations from coast to coast are 
building awareness seeking to engage, educate, and inspire individuals 
nationwide to join the movement and prevent bullying. As a proud member 
of the Anti Bullying Caucus which advocates for policies to combat 
bullying of all kinds, from the playground to the elderly care facility 
I support all efforts aimed at preventing bullying and believe more 
must be done.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of 
National Bullying Prevention Month.

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