[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           THE VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT

  (Mrs. LLOYD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. LLOYD. Mr. Speaker, one particular provision of the crime bill 
that has received unfair attention is the midnight sports league. The 
provision takes positive steps toward instilling confidence and self-
worth among many of our at-risk youth. Too many of our youth are 
subjected to the hostile environment on the streets--where selling 
drugs and committing crimes are a way of life. Unfortunately, many 
American communities, particularly urban communities, do not have the 
resources to provide alternatives for at-risk youth. An alternative is 
the basis of midnight sports. It give youth a choice between the 
dangers of the street, or a controlled environment.
  In a perfect world our youth are in bed at a reasonable time and not 
roaming the streets. However, we do not live in a perfect world and 
statistics show that most crimes are committed between 10 p.m. and 2 
a.m. Midnight sports league helps communities keep youth off the 
streets, by allowing them to use local gymnasiums and community 
facilities throughout the night. In addition, the program will provide 
the young people participating in the league with job training, 
educational seminars, and counseling services.
  Locking up criminals is only part of the solution--but it is also the 
most costly. It costs the taxpayers approximately $49,000 a year for 
each prisoner. Yes, those that commit crime must be put behind bars and 
serve their just punishment. The minimal cost in providing sports 
leagues, educational resources, and community activities is certainly a 
worthwhile investment in changing juvenile delinquents into productive 
and responsible adults.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress cannot fight the crime battle alone. We need to 
involve the people in our districts. We need their cooperation, 
support, and patience as we develop programs that we hope will alter 
this distressing proliferation of violence in our communities. The 
programs included in the crime bill are funded for a 6-year period. 
Some of the programs in the crime bill may not work and we should be 
able to gauge the results after the 6 years. However, whether 
successful or not, we owe it to our constituents to try anything we can 
to curb the growing violence before another young life is lost.

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