[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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