[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




GUAM STUDENT JENNY ANDREA TOVES TO REPRESENT SIMON SANCHEZ HIGH SCHOOL 
         AT NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 1997

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I met with Jenny Andrea Toves, 
a 14-year-old student from Simon Sanchez High School on Guam and her 
advisor, Mrs. Shirley Ruiz. Jenny was selected to represent Guam at the 
National Youth Summit to Prevent Underage Drinking that is being held 
here in Washington. The summit, which is sponsored by Mothers Against 
Drunk Driving, targets underage drinking as part of its overall effort 
to combat drunk driving.
  Jenny came to attend the summit to gain ideas on how to raise the 
legal drinking age in Guam from 18 to 21. She is a member of her 
school's drug prevention club and is active in the young women's 
organization at her church. She is a member of the Guam Show Choir, the 
Board of Governing Students, and the student body association.
  During our meeting, Jenny presented me with the top three youth 
summit recommendations that were adopted by summit participants. These 
include the automatic loss of license for those under 21 on their first 
alcohol-related offense, that zero tolerance laws for those under 21 
have strong sanctions and include a strong media campaign to raise 
awareness, and that requirements be made for alcohol advertisers to pay 
for public service announcements to counter alcohol advertisements. It 
is clear from their recommendations that the direction from our youth 
is to seriously deal with these issues and to pursue them here in 
Washington and back home in their respective communities.
  Jenny was sincerely excited about participating in the summit and has 
expressed her commitment to carry on with this work. I was proud to 
know that she will continue to lead, coordinate, and participate in 
educational and peer efforts designed to combat drunk driving and 
underage drinking at home on Guam. We should take notice of the 
willingness of Jenny and the other participants of the summit to work 
on these issues and commend them for their efforts. I know that I will 
be seriously considering these proposals and hope that my colleagues 
will do the same.

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