[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1642-E1643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCING THE HEALTHY FAMILIES INITIATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMAN D. DICKS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 3, 1997

  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, child abuse and neglect is an epidemic that 
devastates our children and often leads them to a life of crime. In 
1994, public welfare agencies received reports of 3.1 million children 
being

[[Page E1643]]

abused or neglected. Each year, an estimated 2,000 children--most under 
the age of 4--die at the hands of parents or caretakers.
  A study shows that abused children are more likely to commit crimes 
both as juveniles and as adults. Abused children are more prone to 
commit a violent crime during their lives. It is also more probable for 
abused children to grow up and abuse their children, starting the whole 
cycle over again. Congress must take action to end this cycle of abuse 
and crime that ruins the lives of thousands of our children.
  Some states and communities have found a solution that has proven 99 
percent successful in preventing child abuse and neglect among those 
families most at-risk. Modeled after a program pioneered by the State 
of Hawaii, these programs utilize existing social services to provide 
counseling to at-risk families that volunteer to participate in the 
program.
  Today, I am introducing the same bipartisan legislation that I 
introduced in the last Congress to create the Healthy Families 
Initiative. This bill would enable the Federal Government to help 
States and communities that decide to create one of these programs. 
Simply put, my bill would make Healthy Families programs eligible for 
funding as crime prevention programs under the 1994 Crime bill--at no 
new cost to the Federal Government.
  This legislation is an innovative way to help communities fight child 
abuse, and has many substantial benefits. My bill helps programs that 
have proven effective preventing child abuse. Healthy Families programs 
have a solid record of success in the State of Hawaii and in 
communities across the Nation, including Port Angeles, in the district 
I represent.
  This bill will create no new bureaucracy and no new programs within 
the Department of Justice. Most importantly, no new costs will be 
created by my legislation--Congress will not be required to spend one 
additional dollar on this program. This bill will merely enable 
programs to compete for existing crime prevention grant moneys. Also, 
qualifying programs are required to coordinate with other organizations 
to avoid duplication of services.
  States and communities will retain control. This bill will give them 
a hand, but States and communities will still be in charge of their own 
programs.
  I would like to thank each of the 21 Representatives and delegates 
from around the country for cosponsoring this bipartisan initiative. I 
urge every Member to support this strong, bipartisan solution to one of 
the most damaging problems afflicting our children.

                          ____________________