[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS MUST BE STRENGTHENED

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the families of 
the Central Coast of California, and I believe the families of this 
Nation, who send their children to school each day trusting that they 
will learn and also that they will be safe and healthy. The school day 
is often a long one with before and after school care, rec programs, 
tutorials, sports and other activities.
  I speak from 20 years of experience as a school nurse in my 
community. In the health office, we bandage scraped knees, but we do a 
lot more. We assess and refer child abuse, family violence, drug use, 
suicide attempts, and, sadly more and more, violence at school. We 
teach healthy lifestyles, prevention skills, and the values families 
care about. Neighborhood schools must be strengthened as safe and 
healthy centers for learning in each of our communities.

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