III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 488 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

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.