[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 203 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2381-E2383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT

                                 ______


                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Youth Development Community Block Grant of 1995 for Representatives 
Susan Molinari, Donald Payne, Jim Talent, and myself. This legislation 
will consolidate and coordinate a number of existing Federal programs 
to provide local communities with the resources and the authority to 
develop effective youth development programs for their young people.
  The legislation achieves this goal through a two-pronged approach. 
First, it consolidates the resources previously authorized through 19 
Federal programs that were often duplicative, overlapping, and 
unfamiliar to the general 

[[Page E2382]]
public. Second, instead of creating more one-size-fits-all programs at 
the national level, this legislation recognizes that creative 
individuals and groups at the local level are best suited and best 
informed to assess the problems of young people in their community and 
develop strategies and programs for them.
  This initiative promotes positive youth development by supporting 
preventive programs that help our youth learn the values and life 
skills needed to succeed. Because we focus on community-based 
prevention programs, over 90 percent of the money authorized here will 
go directly to local communities.
  The Youth Development Community block grant is endorsed by a broad 
range of public and private organizations. Local youth service groups 
and substance abuse prevention providers support this legislation, as 
do respected organizations such as the Salvation Army, Big Sisters and 
Big Brothers of America, and the Boys Clubs and Girls Clubs of America.
  The Youth Development Community block grant, introduced on the Senate 
side by Chairman Nancy Landon Kassebaum of the Senate Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources, is based on the proven principles of 
successful program delivery--local control, flexibility, coordination, 
and accountability. The legislation builds on the strength, credibility 
and expertise of community-based organizations, and that will be the 
essence of its success.

[[Page E2383]]


                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 1995, may be found in 
the Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                              DECEMBER 20
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on S. 594, to provide for the 
           administration of certain Presidio properties at 
           minimal cost to the federal taxpayer.
                                                            SD-366
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-226

                              DECEMBER 21
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-366
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
         Business meeting, to consider pending committee business.
                                                            SD-226