H. Res. 762
Supporting the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 22, 2007.
Whereas bullying among school-aged children is aggressive behavior that is intentional, often involves an imbalance of power or strength, and is typically repeated over time;
Whereas by some estimates, millions of students are bullied each year;
Whereas bullying can take many forms, including hitting or punching; teasing or name-calling; intimidating through gestures or social exclusion, and sending insulting, threatening, or offensive messages or images via e-mail, text, telephone, or other electronic means;
Whereas there is no single cause of bullying among school-aged children; rather, individual, familial, peer, school, and community factors may place a child or youth at risk of bullying his or her peers;
Whereas a majority of parents, students, and educators report that bullying and harassment are issues of major concern;
Whereas school-aged children who are bullied are more likely than other children to be depressed, lonely, or anxious; have low self-esteem; be absent from school; have more physical complaints, such as headaches and stomach aches; and think about suicide;
Whereas bullying others may be an early sign of other serious antisocial or violent behavior or both;
Whereas school-aged children who frequently bully their peers are more likely than their peers to get into frequent fights, be injured in a fight, vandalize or steal property, drink alcohol, smoke, be truant from school, drop out of school, or carry a weapon;
Whereas harassment and bullying have been linked to 75 percent of school shooting incidents, including the fatal shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, Santana High School in California, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech);
Whereas the stresses of being bullied or harassed can interfere with student's engagement and learning in school and may have a negative impact on student learning;
Whereas research indicates that bullying at school can be significantly reduced through comprehensive, school-wide programs designed to change norms for behavior; and
Whereas National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is October 21 through October 27: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes that bullying of school-aged children is a national concern;
(2) recognizes that bullying is unhealthy for our families and communities;
(3) commends the efforts of national and community organizations, schools, parents, recreation programs, and religious institutions for their efforts to promote greater public awareness about bullying and prevention activities; and
(4) supports the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.
passed 370-0