III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 80 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 19, 2009 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Martinez) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week beginning March 15, 2009, as National Safe Place Week.

Whereas the young people of the United States will bear the bright torch of democracy in the future; Whereas young people need a safe haven from negative influences, such as child abuse, substance abuse, and crime; Whereas young people need resources that are readily available to assist them when they are faced with circumstances that compromise their safety; Whereas the United States needs more community volunteers to act as positive influences on the young people of the United States; Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting the young people of the United States, the most valuable asset of the Nation, 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 relating 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 young people; Whereas more than 1,400 communities in 37 States make the Safe Place program available at nearly 16,000 locations; Whereas more than 200,000 young people 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 young people 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 abuse or neglect 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 young people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates the week beginning March 15, 2009, 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 for, the Safe Place program; and (B)observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.