[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CREATING A BETTER AMERICA

  (Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, now is the time for Congress to 
focus on our agenda. That agenda is aimed quite simply at creating a 
better America for ourselves and our children, creating a better 
tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what generations of Americans have done 
for the past 200 years. Today, however, we must recognize two obstacles 
to the American success story. The first is the juvenile justice system 
that is broken. The second is a legal system that actually threatens 
volunteerism with absurd lawsuits.
  Let us think about, Mr. Speaker, kids being safe, where every mother 
expects her government to provide a minimum of security for her 
children. As for the second, volunteerism, helping our kids in Little 
League, helping the poor and the elderly, volunteering our time at our 
churches, volunteerism is as American as apple pie.
  But lawsuits and manipulation of the legal system threaten these 
activities everywhere. Let us start by passing reform of the juvenile 
justice system and volunteer protection legislation now.

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