[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REMEMBERING DEMI BRAE CUCCIA: WORKING TO PREVENT TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

  (Mr. ROTHFUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Demi Brae Cuccia. Demi 
was a student and cheerleader at Gateway High School in Monroeville, 
Pennsylvania, with an outgoing personality and big aspirations for a 
successful future. Next month, on August 15, we will mark the seventh 
anniversary of Demi's tragic death. She was murdered just one day after 
her 16th birthday.
  Teen dating violence, like stalking and other kinds of physical, 
emotional, or sexual abuse, are reprehensible. No child should be 
subjected to abuse and violence. As a father of six, my heart goes out 
to Demi's family and friends, especially her parents, Dr. Gary and Jodi 
Cuccia.
  The Cuccia family is working to educate western Pennsylvania students 
and families about how to recognize and prevent teen dating violence 
through the Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization. It is my hope that 
their efforts can help spare other families from the tragedy of teen 
dating violence.
  Please join me in remembering Demi and in thanking the Cuccias for 
their commitment to ending dating violence.

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