[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E982-E983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONTINUATION OF THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

                                 ______


                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 1996

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleagues, I would 
like to have printed in the Record this statement by Amy DeCarmine, 
Amber Johnson, Beth Carmine, and Nathina Roy, high school students from 
Vermont, who were speaking at my recent town meeting on issues facing 
young people

       The Summer Youth Employment Program has kept us off the 
     streets; kept us from the use of drugs, alcohol and violence 
     of any type. The Youth Program has also given us the 
     experience of how living can be in real life, and how to 
     conserve money for our future.
       There can be nothing more positive in our lives than the 
     Summer Youth Employment Program; it is a continuance of 
     encouragement of being a responsible young adult. The Summer 
     Youth Employment Program has been the cause of so many young 
     people being employed, and in some cases it may help to slow 
     down the cycle of the welfare generation. It gives us ideas, 
     training for possible future employment, and it gives us a 
     better idea of what we need to do to accomplish our future. 
     Please help us to keep what has been proven to be a wonderful 
     chance to understand what is expected from us as adults.
       It has given us a great source of self-pride in our 
     abilities to contribute and know what this is--that this is a 
     great start in life. And with your support in us, you have 
     also given us hope that you believe in all of us. We need 
     this opportunity to prove that we are serious about our 
     future, and need your consideration to allow us this Program 
     to continue. That's it.
       Congressman Sanders: Can you tell us what kind of work you 
     did in the Summer Youth Employment Program?
       Answer: I've been on the Youth Program for two years now. 
     And, the first year I worked at Project Independence, which 
     is helping elderly people take care of themselves and 
     entertain them. And last summer, I cleaned the elementary 
     school of Williamstown to get [it] ready for school.
       Answer: I've only been in this for one year, which was last 
     year, but I worked with Amber at the elementary school 
     cleaning, and I thought it was a really great thing, because 
     a lot of people that are inexperienced, like under 16, 
     [employers] don't want to hire you * * *
       Answer: I worked at a hospital as a spot clerk in the 
     basement, and I was in the program for one year. It was a 
     very good skill because I'm going to be working at a hospital 
     after I graduate.
       Congressman Sanders: So I think what you're seeing here is 
     an example of a Federal program which meant a lot to you 
     three, and to tens and tens of thousands of other young 
     Americans.
       Answer: Yes.
       Congressman Sanders: There is a major debate taking place 
     in Congress right now, as to whether this fund, with this 
     program, should continue to be funded. I prefer, strongly, 
     that it should; but we're fighting against people who prefer 
     to put money into

[[Page E983]]

     airplanes and bombers that the Pentagon doesn't need, rather 
     than in programs like this. So, I thank you very much for 
     personalizing one of the major debates taking place in 
     Congress. Thank you.

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