[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 37 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2217-S2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA 1995 CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this week in March is a traditionally 
busy one here in Washington as tens of thousands of children of all 
ages arrive in the Nation's Capital. They come to the District of 
Columbia from all over the United States during their spring break 
vacation to learn about our Government and our history, both of which 
are unparalleled.
  Over the past 4 or 5 days, I doubt that there one Member of this 
Chamber who has not met several groups of his or her young 
constituents, boys and girls who have stopped by for Gallery passes, a 
photo, or just to say ``hello.'' I also doubt that there is one Senator 
who was not pleased to meet with these children as each of us 
recognizes that the youth of today represent the future of our country. 
That recognition clearly guides us as we work to ensure that the United 
States remains a nation of opportunity and freedom.
  While what we do here in the Senate helps our children, there are 
other organizations out there who dedicate all of their efforts to 
making the lives of our youngest citizens better. One such group is the 
Boys and Girls Clubs of America. From coast to coast and from north to 
south, there are boys and girls clubs in thousands of communities of 
every imaginable size. The service this organization provides range 
from recreational activities to counseling, but most importantly, they 
provide a place for our young people to go and be involved in 
constructive activities.
  Each year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America hosts a congressional 
breakfast, and as the Capitol is filled with children this week, I 
thought this would be an ideal time to share the thoughts and comments 
of those who spoke at this year's event. Their comments will give those 
who read them an insight into this organization and the significant 
work they do.
  I ask unanimous consent that the remarks be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the remarks were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                      1995 Congressional Breakfast


                            senator thurmond

       Representative Steny Hoyer, Mr. George Grune, the Chairman 
     of the Board, Mr. Robbie Callaway, the Senior Vice President, 
     Melvin Laird, Arnold Burns, one of the outstanding lawyers of 
     this nation, Judge Freeh, all of the distinguished guests, 
     and ladies and gentlemen, I'm very honored to be here on this 
     occasion. Now, as a Senator, there are a lot of events you 
     are asked to attend. I'm always pleased to attend this 
     breakfast. It's the twelfth year.
       I'm a strong believer in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 
     There's no more important resource than our children. Boys & 
     Girls Clubs of America work to help protect and promote that 
     resource. This is an organization that is making a difference 
     in the lives of tens of thousands of at risk teens. It 
     provides parks and recreational activities, a safe haven from 
     the mean streets, teaches kids the importance of work and 
     responsibility, works to get kids into school, into jobs, off 
     welfare roles, out of public housing and away from the 
     temptations of a life of crime.
       The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an organization on the 
     move, serving more children each year. Thirteen years ago, 
     they served approximately one million kids. This year, they 
     are serving more than 2.2 million boys and girls. More than 
     1,700 clubs are in the United States. Last year, they 
     averaged an opening of one new club every three days. This is 
     a group that seeks continued growth. By the year 2001, the 
     Boys & Girls Clubs of America aims to have 1,000 new clubs, 1 
     million new members, over 3 million kids involved in 
     productive activities.
       The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is one of the most 
     effective organizations in the nation for supporting our 
     children. It is an organization worthy of the support of 
     everyone in this room. As members of Congress, we are in the 
     position to help the Boys & Girls Clubs and our children. We 
     can support legislation that is beneficial to the Boys & 
     Girls Clubs. One example is the current crime bill. The Boys 
     & Girls Clubs of America is seeking 100 million dollars out 
     of the crime bill over the next five years. The Board of 
     Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs will match that 100 
     million from the crime bill. That is 200 million dollars 
     pumped directly into the future of our nation's children.
       By attending this breakfast, each of you is demonstrating 
     your support for a worthwhile cause. I urge you to continue 
     to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. You can do nothing 
     more worthy. We are proud of the Boys & Girls Clubs of 
     America and we're going to keep on working to make it bigger 
     and stronger every year. Good luck, God bless you and God 
     bless the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and God bless our 
     country.


                        congressman steny hoyer

       One problem with the Strom and Steny show is that I have to 
     follow Strom Thurmond. Thurmond and Hoyer, that sounds like a 
     good name for a firm at some point in time. Strom's show has 
     been running a lot longer than mine, as you know, but I'm 
     always amazed at the energy, his commitment and the verve 
     that he brings to life and the endeavors which he 
     undertakes. And Senator, I want you to know what an honor 
     and privilege it is to co-chair this breakfast on a 
     continuing basis with you. George Grune, your leadership 
     is critically important. General Burns, you've seen 
     General Burns up here, he looks a lot like Colin Powell. I 
     asked him if he was running for President. He's got those 
     four stars on his lapel, here. I'm sure it's got to have 
     something to do with that. He is outranked, of course, at 
     his table by Secretary Laird and the Secretary is keeping 
     him in line, luckily, so they'll be peaceful. Pete Silas, 
     thank you for all you've done and your leadership. We look 
     forward to working with you on a continuing basis. My 
     friend, Robbie Callaway. I think we ought to give Robbie 
     Callaway a big round of applause for the outstanding 
     leadership he brings to this effort on a regular basis. 
     Ken Gordon is here today, too.
       Six or seven of the top law enforcement officials in our 
     nation are here. We have Louis Freeh and a group of his 
     distinguished colleagues. They're the ones who lock up and 
     help convict those who break the laws in our country, to keep 
     our communities and streets and schools safe. That's their 
     job. We ask them to do that. They're people that sometimes 
     themselves risk their life and limb to do so. They're here 
     this morning and I reflect on why and what message that 
     brings us. They're here because unless parents and Boys & 
     Girls Clubs leaders and other youth leaders all over this 
     country do

[[Page S2218]]

     their job, they know they can't lock up enough people. God 
     bless them and you ladies and gentlemen of the Boys & Girls 
     Club, God bless you. Senator Thurmond is correct because you 
     do God's work.
       This is the first line of defense. This is the first line 
     in a battle we all must wage if we are to stop the crime and 
     the violence and the drugs from taking over our streets, our 
     children. And that, ladies and gentlemen is what it's all 
     about.
       I am very, very proud to be here with two people who 
     symbolize what is the first line and the best line and 
     ultimately the line that will get us to where we need to be--
     two parents who all America, and indeed all the world applaud 
     just a few days ago.
       Lou Gehrig had the kind of character that all the world 
     would admire. Let us thank God that his record was equaled 
     and surpassed by another individual who had the character of 
     which we can all be proud and say, ``He was worthy of Lou 
     Gehrig''. But, why was it so? It was so because Vi and Cal 
     Ripken Sr. Gave him the leadership and the charcter and the 
     understanding that gave him the will and the strength of 
     character to persevere in the face of pain, the face of 
     frustration, the face of being tired. We all get tired. Cal 
     Ripken Jr. rose and he said, effective, ``My Dad and Mom said 
     go to work every day and do the best you can.'' Is there a 
     more powerful, potent message to be given to young people 
     than that message? God bless Vi and Cal Ripken, Sr. We're 
     proud of you and proud of what you've done. By the way, 
     they're from Maryland.
       I know if you'll allow me four more minutes, I will close 
     with this. I hope all of you have read the books left for 
     you. There is a young woman sitting at my table who is 
     typical of all of the young people we come here today to 
     honor. She's a success story. Not just the kind of success 
     story we read about every day, but also a success story of 
     the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She's from Dallas. 
     She's a young woman. She's an African American woman and a 
     true success story. Read here quote. She says, ``I am 
     proud to tell my story. One of struggle and hardship, but 
     also one of triumph and achievement.'' LaWanda Jones, 
     that's what it's all about because, there are a lot of 
     people who don't have a Vi and Cal to lift them up, to 
     nurture them, to protect them, to give them the kind of 
     internal mechanism and compass that they need to succeed.
       And so, as Todd Green said, one word came to mind when he 
     thinks of Boys & Girls Clubs, and that's ``family . . . 
     family''. All of us are extended family for an awful lot of 
     young people who need the kind of nurturing and caring and 
     courage given by Cal and Vi to Cal, Jr. Each of you in this 
     room is a part of that caring family of America that 
     ultimately will be the difference. Not the government, it 
     won't happen in government. Government can help. I am one who 
     believes that government needs to a partner. I'm one who 
     believes that we need to marshall our resources in the form 
     of, yes, paying taxes and applying those to good efforts. 
     But, in the final analysis, we will not solve the problems of 
     making sure America's future is secure and the security of 
     our young people is assured if it's not through our families 
     and through us, individually, caring for our young people. 
     That's what Boys & Girls Clubs of America do. Brooke Kersey 
     said, ``In good times and bad times, the Boys & Girls Clubs 
     have been my life line.'' You do God's work. I am proud to be 
     a part of all of you. Thank you.


                      ``captain'' arnold I. burns

       Good morning. Thank you very much for our kind invitation. 
     I'm delighted to be here with the distinguished members of 
     the law enforcement community mentioned by Congressman Hoyer.
       I've come today to make some important arrests. I've come 
     to arrest crime and I've come to arrest violence, to arrest 
     the drug epidemic, to arrest teenage pregnancies, to arrest 
     alcoholism, to arrest youth gangs. One thing responsible 
     people in the law enforcement business have come to know, and 
     know very well, and Steny made this point, and that is that 
     law enforcement alone cannot solve our societal problems. We 
     have come to believe it and to espouse the old adage that an 
     ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We know that in 
     order to make our streets safer and more secure, we must work 
     with organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
       We need more programs for the young people of this nation 
     of ours--programs like the tried and proven initiatives that 
     have earned Boys & Girls Clubs the reputation as the positive 
     place for kids. These programs help young people to resist 
     the peer and other pressures that lead to substance abuse, to 
     say ``no'' to drugs, ``no'' to alcohol, to say ``no'' to 
     teenage premature sex and to say ``no'' to gangs.
       We need more Boys & Girls Clubs which keep kids coming back 
     day after day and year after year under professional, adult 
     supervision to learn how to get up in the morning, to show up 
     on time for an interview, to find employment, to develop good 
     work habits and to become a reliable and important part of 
     the work force. Boys & Girls Clubs of America programs 
     literally save hundreds of thousands of kids from harm and 
     destruction each year. It is these programs that keep kids 
     from harm and destruction each year. It is these programs 
     that keep kids out of our courtrooms and out of jail. It is 
     these programs that prepare kids to become productive and 
     participating citizens in the mainstream of our society. It 
     is these programs which make our kids producers of tax 
     dollars and not consumers of tax dollars as wards of the 
     State or as welfare participants. Boys & Girls Clubs of 
     America saves billions of dollars, multi-billions of dollars 
     of our tax dollars, because the cost of prevention pales 
     beside the cost of cure, particularly as the cure 
     rehabilitation so rarely works.
       So, my department, today, is issuing an APB--an all points 
     bulletin--to the 1680 boys & girls clubs facilities across 
     our nation--reach out--reach out for more kids. Ten years 
     ago, boys & girls clubs served 1,000,000 kids. Today, over 
     2,220,000 kids. Tomorrow--within the next few years--
     3,000,000 kids. No alibis.
       We in law enforcement will continue to investigate, 
     apprehend, prosecute, convict and incarcerate those who slip 
     through the prevention net. We would like--no, we need, no, 
     we must have your help--your continued top flight work, to 
     cut potential miscreants off at the pass and bypass the 
     criminal justice process entirely by opting for good and 
     productive citizenship early. I close by congratulating our 
     ``Youth of the Year'' finalists: Jason Reese, Russell 
     Roberson, Fernando Pantoja, Michael Smith and Michael 
     Lampkins. Each of them personifies the success boys and girls 
     clubs can achieve in providing youngsters with a real 
     alternative to life on the streets.
       We will continue our work, you continue yours--ours must be 
     a partnership, a collaboration. Together, we can make America 
     a better place for all.

                          ____________________