[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 488 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 488

Designating the week beginning March 16, 2008, as ``National Safe Place 
                                Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 14 (legislative day, March 13), 2008

 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
    Bayh, Mr. McConnell, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bunning, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
  Feingold, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. 
   Dodd) submitted the following resolution; which was considerd and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week beginning March 16, 2008, as ``National Safe Place 
                                Week''.

Whereas the youths of the United States 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 youths 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 Nation'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 900 communities in 41 States make the Safe Place program 
        available at nearly 16,000 locations;
Whereas more than 200,000 youths have gone to Safe Place locations to get help 
        when faced with crisis situations and have received counseling by phone 
        as a result of Safe Place information the youths 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 the Safe Place program 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 more 
        communities to establish Safe Place locations for the youths of the 
        United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of March 16 through March 22, 2008, 
        as ``National Safe Place Week''; and
            (2) calls upon the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to--
                    (A) promote awareness of, and volunteer involvement 
                in, the Safe Place program; and
                    (B) observe the week with appropriate ceremonies 
                and activities.
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