IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 102 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness 

and Prevention Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2009 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating 

Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. 

Whereas communities across the country carry out activities 

to raise awareness about teen dating violence during the 

week of February 2 through February 6, 2009; 

Whereas 1 in 11 adolescents reports being a victim of physical dating violence; 

Whereas 1 in 5 teenagers in a serious relationship reports 

having been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner; 

Whereas 1 in 3 female teenagers in a dating relationship has 

feared for her physical safety; 

Whereas more than 1 in 4 teenagers have been in a relationship where a partner is verbally abusive; 


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•HRES 102 IH 

Whereas 27 percent of teenagers have been in dating relationships in which their partners called them names or 

put them down; 

Whereas 40 percent of the youngest teens, those between the 

ages of 11 and 12, report that they have friends who are 

victims of verbal abuse in dating relationships; 

Whereas 1 in 5 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 14 say 

they have friends who are victims of dating violence; 

Whereas 1 in 2 teenagers in a serious relationship has compromised personal beliefs to please a partner; 

Whereas 29 percent of girls who have been in a relationship 

said that they have been pressured to have sex or to engage in sexual activities that they did not want; 

Whereas technologies such as cell phones and the Internet 

have made dating abuse more pervasive and more hidden; 

Whereas 30 percent of teenagers who have been in a dating 

relationship say that they have been text-messaged between 10 and 30 times per hour by a partner seeking to 

find out where they are, what they are doing, or who they 

are with; 

Whereas 72 percent of teenagers who reported that they had 

been checked up on by a boyfriend or girlfriend 10 times 

per hour or more by email or text messaging did not tell 

their parents; 

Whereas parents are largely unaware of the cell phone and 

Internet harassment experienced by teenagers; 

Whereas nearly 3 in 4 teens say that dating relationships 

usually begin at age 14 or younger; 


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•HRES 102 IH 

Whereas 69 percent of all teenagers who had sex by age 14 

said they have experienced 1 or more types of abuse in 

a dating relationship; 

Whereas violent relationships in adolescence can have serious 

ramifications for victims, putting them at higher risk for 

substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, 

suicide, and revictimization as adults; 

Whereas the severity of violence among intimate partners has 

been shown to be greater in cases where the pattern of 

violence has been established in adolescence; and 

Whereas National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week benefits schools, communities, families, and 

individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or 

sex: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention 

4 Week to raise awareness of teen dating violence in 

5 the Nation; and 

6 (2) encourages the people of the United States, 

7 State and local officials, middle schools and high 

8 schools, law enforcement agencies, and other inter9 ested groups to observe National Teen Dating Vio10 lence Awareness and Prevention Week with appro11 priate programs and activities that promote aware12 ness and prevention of the crime of teen dating vio13 lence. 

Æ 


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