[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
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]

 
                       HONORING THE DARE PROGRAM

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, today we honor the National Drug Abuse 
Resistance Education Program, designated as DARE Day. DARE is an 
innovative and successful approach to drug abuse prevention. It 
recognizes that drug abuse prevention must be a cooperative effort 
between parents, educators, and law enforcement, and that education 
must begin early.
  The core curriculum of DARE focuses on fifth and sixth grade students 
in order to prepare them for entry into junior high and high school. 
Uniform police officers visit classrooms and tell the kids the cold, 
hard facts about drugs. Together, the students and officers develop 
ways of resisting peer pressure to try drugs and, instead, find 
alternatives to drug use. In other words, DARE does not just teach kids 
to say ``no'' to drugs, it provides them with the tools and the skills 
that are necessary to say ``no'' to drugs.
  During the 1993-94 school year, over 100,000 fifth and sixth graders 
in Michigan have received DARE classes. The number of students 
participating has grown every year since 1988, the year when pilot 
programs were developed and implemented in selected school districts 
around my State of Michigan. Similar success stories can be found in 
every State where DARE is active.
  A word of thanks and congratulations is due to the dedicated teachers 
and specially trained law enforcement personnel who have made DARE as 
effective as it is. DARE changes kids' attitudes about drugs; it 
improves interpersonal relationships at schools; it decreases 
vandalism; it creates a special bond between that law enforcement 
officers and young people, and it has even been found to improve 
grades.
  I have visited DARE classes and attended DARE graduation ceremonies 
around the State of Michigan--in Warren, Port Huron, Algonac, Flint, 
Grand Rapids, and other communities. I have spoken with teachers and 
police officers involved, and the teachers tell me that when the 
students hear about drugs from a uniformed police officer, the kids 
really listen.
  More important, the kids tell me that DARE has really changed the way 
they think and feel about drugs. They tell me when somebody offers them 
drugs, they know how to say no, and they know why they must say no.
  DARE is an essential component of a comprehensive effort to keep 
drugs off of our streets and away from our children. If we can teach 
our children to resist drugs, then we all have a fighting chance. That 
is why it is so important that Federal funding continues to be 
available for DARE Programs. I hope all of our colleagues will join me 
in supporting these very necessary Drug Abuse Resistance Education 
Programs.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  Mr. SMITH addressed the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Massachusetts has 
approximately 4 minutes remaining.
  Who yields time to the Senator from New Hampshire?
  Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 
minutes under the 10 to 10:30 slot, and that it not be taken from 
Senator Kennedy's time?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. HATFIELD. Reserving the right to object, I would like to inquire 
as to who is handling the allocation on behalf of Senator Kennedy?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair would inquire who is 
yielding time for the Senator from Massachusetts?
  Mr. HATFIELD. I understand. I withdraw that question. I understand 
that I do. I will do so at some point. I think there are 4 minutes 
left.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There are 3 minutes left, and when 
that time expires----
  Mr. HATFIELD. Outside of my question.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Four minutes remain.
  Mr. SMITH. Madam President, if the Senator from Oregon wishes to 
speak under Senator Kennedy's time, I will withdraw my request and 
allow the Senator to proceed, and I will speak after him.
  Mr. HATFIELD. I thank the Senator from New Hampshire, but I am not in 
that big a hurry. I will be happy to listen for 5 minutes to the 
Senator from New Hampshire.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Hampshire is 
recognized for 5 minutes.

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