[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
{time} 1610
IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH PREVENTION BLOCK GRANTS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Hoagland] is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. HOAGLAND. Madam Speaker, and colleagues, our esteemed colleague
from the other body, our junior U.S. Senator, Mr. Bob Kerrey, has
proposed an innovative approach to providing Federal grants for crime
prevention for youths that could be very helpful to primarily rural
States like my home State of Nebraska.
Mr. Kerrey's proposal, the Youth Violence Prevention Block Grant, was
adopted in the crime bill the other body passed last fall. I would like
to encourage this body to ensure that Youth Violence Block Grant is
included in the final crime package that comes out of conference.
It is clear that economically disadvantaged children who start
falling behind early in their schooling have a higher likelihood of
skating close to trouble for a good deal of their lives. They are less
likely to find good-paying jobs.
And we know that cognitive skills children learn at an early age help
them reason their way through stressful and dangerous situations. Young
people who succeed at learning have a higher self-esteem and are more
likely to think before resorting to violence.
This crime bill focuses on youth violence that is related to gangs
and drugs, and I think that is necessary. Nebraska has a serious and
growing gang problem.
But Nebraska also has a serious problem with youth violence that is
unrelated to gang activity. This bill also focuses on prevention
programs like the Ounce of Prevention Council and that could be very
helpful to our youths. It provides funding to support local initiatives
designed by individual communities by providing competitive grants at
the Federal level.
The only problem is, communities in a State like Nebraska would have
a very difficult time competing against other communities nationwide
for the grants under this formula.
Mr. Kerrey's proposal would instead guarantee each State an
allotment, and would allow the State to distribute the money to
community groups. The Youth Violence Prevention Block Grant provides a
nice balance to the other prevention programs in the crime bill and
helps those States, like Nebraska, that are smaller but well-organized
and have good working relationships between communities and the State
government.
This amendment would ensure that every State had a source of Federal
funds for State and local communities to finance youth prevention
programs, whether those programs are for child abuse prevention,
alternatives to school suspension, or after school activities programs.
I am submitting a copy of the amendment as it was adopted in the
other body for the Record. I urge that the Youth Violence Prevention
Block Grant be adopted in conference so that States like Nebraska can
get Federal help for our youths.
Amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Kerrey:
On page 118, strike lines 7 through 11 and insert the
following:
Subtitle B--Grants Under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act of 1974
SEC. 611. JUVENILE DRUG TRAFFICKING AND GANG PREVENTION
GRANTS.
Part B of title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5631 et seq.) is amended--
On page 126, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
SEC. 612. GRANTS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
Part B of title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5631 et seq.), as amended
by section 611, is amended by adding at the end the following
new subpart:
``Subpart III--Youth Violence Prevention Block Grants
``Sec. 238. (a) In General.--The Administrator of the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shall
make grants to States to assist the States in planning,
establishing, operating, coordinating, and evaluating
programs directly or through grants and contracts with public
and private agencies for the development of more effective
education, training, research, prevention,
diversion. treatment, and rehabilitation programs in the
area of juvenile violence.
``(b) Issues To Be Addressed.--A program funded under
subsection (a) shall address issues identified as
contributing to youth violence, which may include--
``(1) conflict resolution programs in schools;
``(2) alternatives to school suspension;
``(3) juvenile court diversion programs; and
``(4) other innovative projects.
``(c) Allocation of Funds.--The amount appropriated under
this section for a fiscal year shall be allocated among the
States by allocating to each State an amount that bears the
same proportion to the amount appropriated as the number of
residents of the State under the age of 18 years bears to the
number of residents of all of the States under the age of 18
years.
``(d) Administration.--Grants made under this section shall
be administered by the State office designated under section
507 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(42 U.S.C. 3757).
``(e) Applications by Public and Private Agencies.--
``(1) In general.--A public or private agency desiring to
receive a grant or enter into a contract under this subpart
shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the office described in
subsection (d) may prescribe.
``(2) Contents.--In accordance with guidelines established
by the office described in subsection (d), an application
under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) set forth a program or activity for carrying out 1 or
more of the purposes described in subsections (a) and (b) and
specifically identify each such purpose that the program or
activity is designed to carry out;
``(B) provide that the program or activity will be
administered by or under the supervision of the applicant;
``(C) provide for the proper and efficient administration
of the program or activity;
``(D) provide for regular evaluation of the program or
activity;
``(E) provide an assurance that the proposed program or
activity will supplement, not supplant, similar programs and
activities already available in the community;
``(F) describe how the program or activity will be
coordinated with programs, activities, and services available
locally;
``(G) provide that regular reports on such program or
activity shall be sent to the administering office named in
subsection (d); and
``(H) provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting
procedures as may be necessary to ensure prudent use, proper
disbursement, and accurate accounting of funds received under
this subpart.
``(f) Matching Funds Requirements.--
``(1) Funds received under this subpart.--Funds received
through a grant under this section may not be expended for
more than 75 percent of the cost of any program that is so
funded.
``(2) Funds from other sources.--In providing for the 25
percent share of the cost of a program from other sources, a
State--
``(A) shall provide for such share through a payment in
cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities,
equipment, or services; and
``(B) may provide for such share through State sources,
local sources, private sources, nonprofit sources, other
Federal sources, or any combination of these sources.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996.''.
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