[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMENDING POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUES NATIONWIDE

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                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. MILLER of California. It gives me great pleasure today, together 
with my fellow cosponsors, to introduce a resolution commending Police 
Athletic Leagues [PAL] across this country for their excellent work on 
behalf of our Nation's youth.
  PAL was created over 50 years ago in New York City by Lt. Ed Flynn, 
who, faced with persistent gang violence, organized a baseball league 
to give kids an alternative to crime. PAL now has 246 local chapters in 
cities nationwide, including Jacksonville, Des Moines, New York, 
Denver, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. And in my congressional 
district, there are PAL organizations in Benicia, Martinez, Richmond, 
and Vallejo.
  Three million kids participate in PAL's recreational and educational 
program, such as athletic tournaments, police cadet clubs, and computer 
training. Fifty years after its inception, the principal mission of PAL 
remains the same: Police officers volunteer their free time to work 
with youths in promoting trust and understanding in an atmosphere of 
cooperation. The kids benefit by receiving positive role models and 
learning life skills. The officers benefit by getting an opportunity to 
make a real, positive difference in kids' lives.
  Mr. Speaker, in my own State, PAL--called CAL-PAL--is easily one of 
the largest juvenile crime prevention programs in California, with over 
50,000 kids participating. CAL-PAL includes over 25 chapters, each as 
varied as the towns or cities in which they operate. CAL-PAL has 
established itself as a viable, successful juvenile crime prevention 
program by focusing on athletic and other related youth activities. 
Their motto is ``Filling Playgrounds Not Prisons.'' PAL's long years of 
experience with kids shows that sporting activities help bring out the 
best in kids. Youth members of PAL learn to be part of a team--they 
learn how their individual efforts are part of a collective goal, they 
learn endurance and perseverance, and they learn that hard work leads 
to success. And above all they gain self-awareness and self-esteem, 
which are the essential building blocks of every child's personality, 
but are especially important to disadvantaged kids. PAL also serves the 
purpose of cementing positive relationships between kids and police 
officers, a relationship that is based on mutual respect and deep 
admiration.
  Clearly, we need to do all we can to reduce crime among our youth. 
Although crime in the Nation has subsided somewhat in recent years, 
violent crimes committed by juveniles has surged. PAL is certainly no 
substitute for tough crime fighting strategies and policies. But police 
athletic leagues, acting in concert with these policies, are out in the 
field everyday attempting to turn back the rising tide of crime by 
providing constructive activities for kids. PAL's police officers 
deserve our support and our commendation.


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