[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.''.

                          ____________________