HRES 128119th CongressIn Committee

Expressing support for designation of the month of February 2025 as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month".

Introduced: Feb 12, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H. Res. 128 is a House resolution that expresses support for designating February 2025 as “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.” Introduced by Rep. Moore (WI) for herself, Rep. Dingell, and Rep. Fitzpatrick, and referred to the Judiciary Committee, the resolution is a non-binding, ceremonial statement from Congress. It aims to raise awareness about teen dating violence (TDV) and to encourage education, prevention, and community efforts to reduce TDV and its negative health and social impacts. The resolution outlines the scope of teen dating violence, including four forms (physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking) and technology-facilitated abuse (e.g., cyber extortion, cyberstalking, doxxing). It cites statistics from the CDC, NIJ, and other sources to illustrate prevalence and risk, emphasizes the importance of healthy relationships and prevention education (including programs like Coaching Boys Into Men), and notes related federal initiatives (such as the Violence Against Women Act and its SMART TDV provisions). Finally, it invites a broad range of community actors—youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, officials, nonprofits, and others—to observe the month with programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention.

Key Points

1Designates February 2025 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and expresses support for observing it nationwide.
2Defines teen dating violence to include physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, stalking, and highlights the growing role of technology-facilitated abuse (cyber extortion, cyberstalking, doxxing).
3Cites prevalence data and public health rationale to support education, healthy-relationship training, and early intervention as primary prevention strategies (including middle school education and programs like Coaching Boys Into Men).
4References existing federal framework (Violence Against Women Act, including SMART Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Act) to emphasize coordination and effectiveness of programs addressing abusive youth relationships.
5Calls on a wide range of stakeholders—youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, state/local officials, nonprofits, and others—to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities that promote TDV awareness and prevention.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Teens and young people, their families, and schools; front-line educators and student support services; public health interests focused on youth safety and well-being.Secondary group/area affected- Law enforcement, court and juvenile services, state and local officials, community organizations, and nonprofits involved in violence prevention, education, and youth services.Additional impacts- Increases national visibility of TDV as a public health issue; may encourage local programming, bystander intervention initiatives, and collaboration across schools, communities, and service providers. As a resolution, it is symbolic and does not authorize new funding or create new legal requirements. It relies on existing programs and partnerships to advance awareness and prevention efforts.

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