[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     ``STRIGHT-UP'' PROGRAM HAILED

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to four 
outstanding constituents of mine who have made a real contribution to 
fighting drugs in Northeastern Pennsylvania: Gene Fischi, Al Ottensman, 
Paul O'Malia, and David Stefanoski.
  These four men are the founders of an anti-drug initiative called the 
``Straight-;Up'' program that involves prisoners at the Luzerne County 
Correctional Facility travelling to area high schools and colleges to 
tell students about life in prison and how drugs ruined their lives and 
led to their incarceration. The detailed, first-person stories conveyed 
by these prisoners can convey a powerful message to teenagers about the 
dangers of drug abuse. Given rising concern in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania and throughout the nation about the perils of teenage drug 
abuse, this sort of innovative program is an eminently worthy endeavor.
  The ``Straight-Up'' program could not have survived since April of 
1996 were it not for the dedicated work of Luzerne County Correctional 
Facility Warden Gene Fischi, and Sergeant David Stefanoski, Lieutenant 
Al Ottensman, and Lieutenant Paul O'Malia of the Luzerne County 
Correctional Facility. Their efforts have already affected over 21,000 
Luzerne County youth. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to 
bring their accomplishment to the attention of my colleagues and I wish 
them and the ``Straight-Up'' program future success.

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