[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 390 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 390

Designating the week beginning March 13, 2006, as ``National Safe Place 
                                Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2006

 Mr. Craig (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
  Lautenberg, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
   Salazar, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Bunning, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. DeWine, Mr. 
    Inouye, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. 
 Murkowski, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Frist) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week beginning March 13, 2006, as ``National Safe Place 
                                Week''.

Whereas the youths of today are vital to the preservation of the United States 
        and will be the future bearers of the bright torch of democracy;
Whereas youths need a safe haven from various negative influences such as child 
        abuse, substance abuse, and crime, and they need to have resources 
        readily available to assist them when faced with circumstances that 
        compromise their safety;
Whereas the United States needs increased numbers of community volunteers acting 
        as positive influences on the youths of the Nation;
Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting the youths of the 
        United States, the country's most valuable asset, by offering short term 
        safe places at neighborhood locations where trained volunteers are 
        available to counsel and advise young people seeking assistance and 
        guidance;
Whereas the Safe Place program combines the efforts of the private sector and 
        nonprofit organizations to reach young people in the early stages of 
        crisis;
Whereas the Safe Place program provides a direct way to assist programs in 
        meeting performance standards relative to outreach and community 
        relations, as set forth in the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5701 et seq.);
Whereas the Safe Place placard displayed at businesses within communities stands 
        as a beacon of safety and refuge to at-risk youths;
Whereas more than 700 communities in 40 States make Safe Place available at 
        nearly 15,000 locations;
Whereas more than 87,000 youths have gone to Safe Place locations to get help 
        when faced with crisis situations and 88,000 youths received counseling 
        by phone as a result of Safe Place information they received at school;
Whereas, through the efforts of Safe Place coordinators across the United 
        States, each year more than 500,000 students learn in a classroom 
        presentation that Safe Place is a resource they can turn to if they 
        encounter an abusive or neglectful situation, and 1,000,000 Safe Place 
        information cards are distributed; and
Whereas increased awareness of the Safe Place program will encourage communities 
        to establish Safe Places for the youths of the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of March 13 through March 19, 2006, 
        as ``National Safe Place Week''; and
            (2) calls upon the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to promote awareness of and volunteer 
        involvement in, the Safe Place programs, and to observe the 
        week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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