According to a 2009 survey sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc., nearly 1 in 3 teens that have been in a dating relationship have experienced sexual or physical abuse, or threats of physical harm.  Even more alarming is the growing epidemic of digital dating abuse -- "sexting", cyberbullying, and harassment with cell phones. According to a 2009 study from MTV and The Associated Press, 50 percent of 14 - 24 year-olds have been the target of some form of digital abuse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 72 percent of 8th and 9th graders report "dating."  By the time these students get to high school, more than half of them say they see dating violence among their peers. We need to create a national, comprehensive teen dating abuse curriculum and introduce it to children before they begin dating and developing unhealthy relationship habits.

Teen dating violence is a pervasive problem that call also be deadly. It is vital that we ask Congress to address teen dating violence and to make education on healthy and dangerous relationships a priority and a reality in all middle schools and high schools.