[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 6 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S683-S684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SENATE RESOLUTION 25--RELATIVE TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

  Ms. SNOWE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Governmental Affairs:

                               S. Res. 25

       Whereas the youth of America face more difficult challenges 
     than ever before, with the lure of gangs, drugs, alcohol, and 
     sex increasing the potential for irresponsible behavior and 
     violence at ever earlier ages;
       Whereas all too often the media focuses on negative stories 
     about America's youth;
       Whereas many young Americans have made extraordinary 
     contributions to their communities and to their country;
       Whereas 10-year old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, 
     wrote to Chairman Yuri Andropov of the Soviet Union in 1982 
     urging peace at the height of the Cold War;
       Whereas Samantha was invited by Chairman Andropov to visit 
     the Soviet Union the following year and became widely 
     recognized as a spokesperson for the cause of peace until her 
     death in a plane crash in 1985; and
       Whereas America's young people need positive role models 
     from among their peers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     United States Postal Service should issue a series of postage 
     stamps highlighting the extraordinary achievements of young 
     Americans and that a stamp honoring Samantha Smith of 
     Manchester, Maine, should be the first in this series.

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I am very pleased today to submit a 
resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the U.S. Postal 
Service should issue a series of postage stamps honoring

[[Page S684]]

young Americans for their extraordinary achievements.
  It is an unfortunate reality today that America's young people face 
more difficult challenges than ever before. The lure of gangs, drugs, 
alcohol, and sex increases the potential for irresponsible behavior and 
violence at ever earlier ages. On a daily basis, young people are 
exposed to a confusing array of messages and sometimes dubious role 
models. And even the best-intentioned working parents find it hard to 
spend the kind of quality time with their children that would help them 
sort through these pervasive influences. All too often, the media 
focuses on negative stories about America's young people.
  Yet, there are many examples of exceptional young Americans who have 
risen above these challenges to accomplish extraordinary things for 
their community and for their country. Samantha Smith, who lived in 
Manchester, ME, is a prime example. In 1982, at the age of 10, Samantha 
wrote a letter to Chairman Yuri Andropov of the Soviet Union urging 
peace at the height of the cold war. As a result, she was invited by 
the Soviet leader to visit his country the following year. Samantha's 
trip received worldwide attention, and the schoolgirl became widely 
recognized as a spokesperson for peace and international understanding. 
Tragically, Samantha's life was cut short in 1985 in a fatal plane 
crash when she was only 13.
  Other young Americans have demonstrated the same kind of initiative 
and vision which Samantha embodied. The youth of our country need to be 
aware of these positive role models from among their own age group. I 
am, therefore, introducing a sense-of-the-Senate resolution today 
calling upon the U.S. Postal Service to issue a series of stamps 
recognizing young Americans, starting with Samantha Smith, for the 
extraordinary contributions they have made.

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