[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S2035]]
SENATE RESOLUTION 53--TO DESIGNATE ``NATIONAL SCHOOL VIOLENCE VICTIMS' 
                             MEMORIAL DAY''

      By Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Specter, Mrs. 
        Feinstein, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. 
        DeWine, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Helms, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
        Abraham, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Grams, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
        Wellstone, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb, Mr. 
        Biden, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bingaman, 
        Mr. Baucus, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Levin, Mr. Sarbanes, 
        Mr. Burns, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Reed, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Campbell, 
        Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Kerrey, 
        Ms. Collins, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Lincoln, and Mr. Lieberman) 
        submitted the resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
        on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 53

       Whereas approximately 10 percent of all public schools 
     reported at least 1 serious violent crime to a law 
     enforcement agency over the course of the 1996-97 school 
     year;
       Whereas in 1996, approximately 225,000 students between the 
     ages of 12 and 18 were victims of nonfatal violent crime in 
     schools in the United States;
       Whereas during 1992 through 1994, 76 students and 29 non-
     students were victims of murders or suicides that were 
     committed in schools in the United States;
       Whereas because of escalating school violence, the children 
     of the United States are increasingly afraid that they will 
     be attacked or harmed at school;
       Whereas efforts must be made to decrease incidences of 
     school violence through an annual remembrance and prevention 
     education; and
       Whereas the Senate encourages school administrators in the 
     United States to develop school violence awareness activities 
     and programs for implementation on March 24, 1999: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 24, 1999, as ``National School 
     Violence Victims' Memorial Day''; and
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation 
     designating March 24, 1999, as ``National School Violence 
     Victims' Memorial Day'' and calling on the people of the 
     United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies 
     and activities.

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
which is very much related to the educational crisis in our country. 
This resolution will designate March 24 as National School Violence 
Victims' Memorial Day and encourage the citizens of our Nation to honor 
and remember the victims of school violence on that day.
  The resolution also will encourage our school administrators to 
conduct programs on that day designed to prevent any further 
occurrences of school violence.
  I am deeply saddened that the introduction of such a resolution is 
even necessary.
  No words can ever adequately express the incredible shock, horror, 
and grief that struck me when I heard the news reports of the tragedy 
which left 5 dead and 11 wounded at the Westside Middle School in 
Jonesboro, AR.
  No words will ever be able to completely convey the cruel and 
senseless loss that the families and friends of Natalie Brooks, Paige 
Ann Herring, Stephanie Johnson, Brittheny Varner, and Shannon Wright 
experienced on March 24, 1998.
  And no words will ever be able to sufficiently honor Shannon Wright's 
memory and her heroic sacrifice. I know that the actions she took to 
protect her students at the cost of her own life will forever be 
remembered. Her actions were motivated out of love for her students and 
touched the lives of thousands of Arkansans, one of whom, Ms. Jennifer 
Morris, a student in Harrisburg, AR, was so inspired by Ms. Wright's 
loving and courageous sacrifice that she wrote and asked me to 
introduce legislation which would create a National Shannon Wright Day.
  Tragically, other communities, other families, and other friends know 
the pain of such senseless losses as well.
  Paducah, KY, Pearl, MS, Richmond, VA, Springfield, OR, Edinboro, PA, 
are just a few of the communities that will forever remember the tragic 
results of school violence.
  According to the Departments of Education and Justice, over the 
course of the 1996-1997 school year 10 percent of all public schools 
reported at least one serious violent crime to a law enforcement 
agency; and in 1996, 225,000 of our students between the ages of 12 and 
18 were victims of nonfatal violent crime in our schools. Between 1992 
and 1994, 76 students and 29 nonstudents lost their lives in murders or 
suicides committed in American schools.
  Finally, Mr. President, the percentage of our students who are afraid 
that they will be attacked or harmed at school is rising dramatically.
  I am not here today to discuss the causes and solutions to school 
violence. Rather, I am simply here to honor and remember the victims of 
school violence. Many of my colleagues who cosponsored this resolution 
have differing approaches on what we do to solve the problem. Many have 
different ideas on what the causes and solutions to school violence 
are. However, we all agree that we must end this violence in our 
classrooms and restore the peace that our children once had in their 
hearts and are entitled to enjoy once again.
  Accordingly, I now introduce this resolution to create National 
School Violence Victims' Memorial Day to ensure that we remember and 
that we honor those who have been victims of school violence and do all 
that we can to remove violence from our schools and restore peace in 
the hearts of our students.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to co-sponsor a Senate 
Resolution to designate March 24, 1999 as National School Violence 
Victims Memorial Day.
  Just last week I spoke to the Montana State Legislature and 
introduced an education action plan, a major part of which is making 
sure our kids are safe in America's schools. While I was home I saw 
Steve Bullock. Steve works for our Attorney General, and every time I 
see Steve I remember his step-brother, Jeremy.
  You see, Jeremy was 11. He and his twin brother Joshua left for 
school together as they always did. The day was April 12, 1994. Jeremy 
didn't come home from school that day. He was shot and killed on the 
playground, leaving a family and a community forever changed.
  By recognizing March 24th as National School Violence Victims 
Memorial Day we will be honoring the memory of Jeremy Bullock and 
countless other children, families and communities by saying clearly, 
with one voice that we as Americans will meet the challenge of 
eradicating violence from our schools.
  It is, in many ways a challenge to decide what kind of a people we 
are. A challenge to stand up for peace and safety against violence and 
hatred. This is about remembering the victims of school violence and it 
is about what we are going to do in their names.
  The easy reaction to this kind of senseless violence is to cast blame 
and to turn our communities into one big episode of the Jerry Springer 
show. But we have as a nation, more often than not, chosen what has 
historically been the more difficult road. The road to peace through 
dialogue, understanding and compassion. That is what National School 
Violence Victims Memorial Day is all about.
  Seventy five years ago, Mahatma Ghandi put it this way. He said ``I 
discovered that pursuit of truth did not permit violence being 
inflicted on one's opponent but that he must be weaned from error by 
patience.''
  We must use this day to teach and to learn. We must talk about the 
225,000 victims of violent crime. We must act to make schools safer for 
parents, teachers and students and we must learn from our mistakes.
  And we are always learning. Learning the lessons of the past, 
committed to using that knowledge to build a better tomorrow. So let us 
enact this resolution, resolved to working together as one community of 
people to make America a better place. A place where patience wins out 
over bloodshed and where truth, as Ghandi said, does not permit 
violence.
  And let us always remember Jeremy Bullock. For though he is gone, his 
memory will help fuel our work. When I think of Jeremy I am always 
reminded of a poem called For The Fallen that goes this way:

     They shall not grow old, as we that are left to grow old:
     Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
     At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will 
           remember them.


           

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