[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: April 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
LET'S STOP KIDS KILLING KIDS WEEK
Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on
Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further consideration
of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 360) to designate the week of April
25, 1994, to May 1, 1994, as ``Let's Stop Kids Killing Kids Week,'' and
as for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. (Mr. Montgomery). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Maryland?
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do not
object, I would simply like to inform the House that the minority has
no objection to the legislation now being considered.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House Joint
Resolution 360, legislation that designates the week of April 25, 1994
to May 1, 1994, as ``Let's Stop Kids Killing Kids Week.'' I commend the
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] for introducing this important
resolution.
The passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act,
last week demonstrates that fighting the crime that plagues our
communities is a top priority for the American people. The approved
legislation not only incorporates several measures that impose severe
penalties on those who break the law, but also institutes proven
programs that will deter our youth from choosing a life of crime.
I am pleased that the House-approved crime bill provides community
and educational programs that will provide an alternative for our
Nation's youth. The rising crime rate among children demonstrates that
this must remain a top priority.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to publicity thank the National League
of Cities and the many other community advocacy groups who have worked
together to build a broad base coalition to address our crime problems.
With this in mind, I wholeheartedly support this resolution.
Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 360 designates this
week, April 25 through May 2, as ``Let's Stop Kids Killing Kids Week.''
Just last week in this Chamber the House of Representatives passed a
comprehensive anticrime bill. In the wake of this important legislation
it is appropriate for us, not only as Members of Congress, but as
members of families and communities throughout this Nation, to focus
our attention on the rising incidence of violent crime among our young
people.
It is a sad and tragic reality in this country that homicide is the
leading cause of death among young African-Americans, and the second
leading cause of death for all people ages 15-34. This past decade
alone has seen a 128-percent increase in the number of juveniles
arrested for murder. We, as leaders and parents, must act now to
reverse these trends and to ensure a safe and positive future for our
youth.
Last week this body passed legislation as part of the crime bill that
represents a step forward in addressing the problem of youth violence.
H.R. 4034, the Urban Recreation and at-Risk Youth Act introduced by
Natural Resources Committee Chairman George Miller and myself expands
park and recreation opportunities for at-risk youth in high crime urban
areas.
During the hearings regarding this legislation, city park directors,
police, boys and girls clubs, midnight basketball leagues and others
closely involved in youth crime prevention programs testified that
recreation works as a crime prevention measure. Many young people in
urban areas have little or no access to sports and recreation
facilities and this bill will help remedy this situation by providing
grants for rehabilitation projects and programs in urban neighborhoods
and communities with a high prevalence of crime at a cost much less
than the $29,000 a year it takes to incarcerate each juvenile offender.
Programs like these that stress preventing the crimes before they are
committed; that teach young people values such as teamwork and
fairness; and that remain focused on the community are what we must
work on for the future. That is why 233 cosponsors and I, with the
support of the National League of Cities and 70 other national
organizations, have introduced House Joint Resolution 360.
Let's Stop Kids Killing Kids Week encourages communities across the
country to focus their attention on the growing problem of youth
violence and what can be done to protect, teach, and provide
opportunities for our children and generations to come so they will no
longer have to live in a world of hopelessness and fear.
Mr. Speaker, Kids Killing Kids is in fact a learned behavior shaped
uniquely by the conditioning of young people in our society, and it is
appalling that we are so inept in challenging and changing such learned
behavior. The intent of the resolution, House Joint Resolution 360, is
not to suggest that a single factor or that a panacea is available to
reverse this behavior, but by teaching nonviolent conflict resolution
and focusing on the problem of youth violence as a community we can
begin to address the impact of the media and programming, the lack of
recreation facilities for urban youths, unemployment, drug abuse, and
the easy access to the instruments of homicide that has led to the
violent behavior of many young people. As a society we must change this
behavior; we must stop the dehumanization of people and the actions
that flow from such anti-social values especially among young people--
we must Stop Kids Killing Kids, a perverse destructive behavior that is
all too common across America in the 1990's.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote in favor of this important
measure to bring awareness to the problem of youth violence and to
promote the positive development of our Nation's youth.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:
H.J. Res. 360
Whereas the incidence of violent crime by teenagers has
increased by alarming proportion in the United States;
Whereas the number of juveniles arrested for murder has
increased 128 percent in the past decade;
Whereas an estimated 60 percent of reported crimes are
being committed by those between 10-20 years of age;
Whereas homicide is the leading cause of death among young
African-Americans and second for all people ages 15-34;
Whereas young people ages 12-24 face the highest risk of
nonfatal assault by any group in America;
Whereas the economic and emotional costs to victims, and
society in general, has reached epidemic proportions;
Whereas the Nation faces a continuing need to support
programs and services that give young people hope and to
offer them alternatives to crime;
Whereas dedicated groups such as the National League of
Cities, together with a broad based coalition of 70 national
educational, religious, local government, law enforcement,
medical, legal, civil rights, media, community service, and
family advocacy organizations have announced a week-long
campaign against youth violence during the week of April 25-
May 1, 1994, including activities in cities across America to
focus on the tragic consequences of youth violence for
families and communities;
Whereas during the week-long campaign against youth
violence important discussions with students, teachers,
doctors, lawyers, and police will be held regarding youth
violence and its effects, along with recognizing those
individuals and programs that are doing outstanding work on
youth violence prevention; and
Whereas it is appropriate to focus the nation's attention
upon the problem of youth violence: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That April
25, 1994, to May 1, 1994, is designated as ``Let's Stop Kids
Killing Kids Week''. The President is authorized and
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of
the United States to observe the week with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider
was laid on the table.
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