[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3180-S3182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL SCHOOL VIOLENCE VICTIMS' MEMORIAL DAY

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 53 be

[[Page S3181]]

discharged from the Judiciary Committee and the Senate now proceed to 
its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 53) to designate March 24, 1999, as 
     ``National School Violence Victims' Memorial Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for 
Senate Resolution 53, which declares March 24, 1999 as ``National 
School Violence Victims' Memorial Day.''
  As a number of my colleagues noted, the past year has been a grim one 
for educators, parents, and students. The tragic events in schools in 
Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oregon shocked the conscience. I'm thankful 
that in my home state of Virginia, no one was killed at school in 1998. 
But this past summer in Richmond, a volunteer and teacher were wounded 
by gun fire from a fourteen-year-old student. All of these events were 
terrible blows to families and friends in each community. I hope 
today's resolution will give some solace to those communities, who will 
know that the Congress has not forgotten them.
  For the nation as a whole, these events were a terrible blow as well, 
and I believe Congress has an obligation to follow up with a commitment 
to preventing future school violence because while schools are a 
relatively safe place for our children, the events of the past year 
have shaken our confidence. School children have written to me 
expressing the fear that they will be attacked, and I know their 
parents have similar fears. We cannot expect our children to achieve 
their best in such an environment.
  We've already taken a number of steps that I hope will help allay 
these fears. Later this year, more than $165 million in school safety 
grants will be awarded by the Department of Justice's Community 
Oriented Policing Services program. I want to thank my colleagues, 
particularly Senators Gregg and Hollings, for supporting efforts last 
year to increase funding for this program, which I initiated in 1997. I 
ask my colleagues to support funding for this important program again 
this year.
  Later this year, as we consider juvenile justice reform legislation 
and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act, I 
will be looking at other ways to help make our schools safer, and I 
look forward to working with my colleagues on that effort as well. 
Students should worry about their next test, not about their safety. 
Fear should not be a part of any school's curriculum.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I want to take just a brief moment to 
thank my colleagues for passing this resolution marking today as 
National School Violence Victims Memorial Day.
  Let me tell you why this day is so important to me and to the 
citizens of Butte, Montana.
  Butte fifth grader Jeremy Bullock was 11 years old when 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 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.
  So, today and every day, let us always remember Jeremy Bullock. For, 
though he is gone, his memory will always linger and help to fuel our 
work.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise this evening to join my 
colleague, Senator Lincoln, my other colleague in the Senate, to honor 
our Nation's children and citizens who have been victimized by school 
violence.
  The Senate just adopted Senate Resolution 53 which designates March 
24, today, as ``National School Violence Victims Memorial Day.'' As you 
know, 1 year ago today at the Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, AR, 
five children and one teacher lost their lives to an inexplicable and 
cowardly act of violence. Ten others were left wounded, and countless 
parents, relatives, and friends were left permanently scarred. In 
addition, the entire State of Arkansas was left numb with shock, 
horror, and grief.
  I cannot express the loss and the pain that we feel as a result of 
this tragedy. But I ask you and my fellow colleagues in the Senate to 
reflect on the loss of Natalie Brooks, Paige Ann Herring, Stephanie 
Johnson, Britthney Verner, and Shannon Wright.
  We hurt for these families. I know that the simplest things in life 
will forever cause them pain. For instance, I know that Floyd Brooks 
will never see another frog without thinking of the frog collection 
which his daughter Natalie was so proud of.
  We remember that Paige Ann Herring was a very bright, intelligent 12-
year-old girl who loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest through such 
activities as playing the piano, softball, volleyball, basketball, 
singing in the school choir. It saddens me, and I think all of us, so 
much that we will no longer hear her voice.
  It is the little things. Stephanie Johnson believed that a ladybug's 
landing on her brought her good luck. And her mother knew that her 
prayers for peace were answered when she asked God for a sign that 
Steph was OK and then upon her next visit saw ladybugs on Stephanie's 
gravestone.
  We remember today that Britthney Varner was an extremely caring and 
loving little girl who got good grades and loved daffodils.
  I know that Mitchell Wright will never look at his son, Zane, without 
thinking of Zane's mother, Shannon, who gave her life to save the lives 
of her students.
  I want these families to know that while we can never fully know the 
pain they feel today, we will certainly never forget their loved ones.
  As I close, I want to give a special message to Zane Wright, Shannon 
Wright's infant son Zane.
  Your mother was a genuine heroine. Scripture teaches us that there is 
no greater love than the love it takes to lay down your life for 
another. So whenever you wonder what you mother was like, remember her 
as an incredibly brave woman who loved others like few others in this 
world ever have.
  In addition, to the families of the victims of school violence in 
Bethel, AK; Pearl, MS; West Paducah, KY; Edinboro, PA; Pomona, CA; 
Springfield, OR; and the rest of the Nation--we want them to know that 
we stand today to honor their loved ones.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor to my colleague from Arkansas.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Thank you, Mr. President. And I thank my colleague from 
Arkansas.
  Mr. President, I join my colleagues, all of my colleagues, here 
today, but especially my fellow colleague from Arkansas, Senator 
Hutchinson, in a very special effort to designate March 24, 1999, as 
National School Violence Victims Day.
  As mentioned by my colleague, a year ago today the peaceful routine 
of a small middle school just outside of Jonesboro, in my home State of 
Arkansas, was forever changed. People across our country still grieve 
over the tragic shooting of four 11-year-old children and one 32-year-
old schoolteacher of Westside Middle School.
  The heartbroken families of victims Natalie Brooks, Paige Ann 
Herring, Stephanie Johnson, Britthney Varner, and teacher Shannon 
Wright still question why it happened. What prompted two boys at the 
tender ages of 13 and 11 to violence? What spurred them to shoot their 
schoolmates and their teacher? The answers may be beyond our 
comprehension.
  Mr. President, the shooting at Westside Middle School is one of the 
gravest tragedies in the history of our State and our country. Though 
time has evoked some healing and renewed confidence, the children and 
teachers of Westside Middle School were apprehensive when returning to 
school last fall. Teachers had to comfort nervous children. Parents had 
misgivings. And playmates longed for their young friends. Having seen 
such young children fall to their death at the hands of classmates 
right before their very eyes, this brave community is having a hard 
time making sense of it all. We all are having a hard time making sense 
of it all.

[[Page S3182]]

  Sadly, last year's tragedy in my home State is not an isolated event. 
Over the past 18 months, gun violence has claimed lives at schools in 
Pearl, MS, as mentioned by my colleague; West Paducah, KY; Edinboro, 
PA; Fayetteville, TN; Springfield, OR; and Richmond, VA. Each time as 
our country watched in horror, we wondered if this senseless violence 
would ever stop.
  Mr. President, the picture painted by these images is ghastly indeed. 
Our Nation's schools are not just buildings where children and teachers 
spend their days. They are the cornerstones of our communities and the 
centers of young precious lives. Parents send their children to school 
day after day with the expectation that they will learn and that they 
will be safe. There are many things we can do in the Senate to curb 
school violence. We must not allow schools to become places to fear.
  I urge this body to examine this escalating problem. And I urge each 
Senator to use National School Violence Victims Day to create a 
dialogue with school communities in their States. When an entire 
community works together to improve its schools, everyone benefits. 
Every child deserves the opportunity to attend a safe school where he 
or she may worry about math and science, not guns and violence.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield back the remainder of our time.
  Mr. DODD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. DODD. I ask unanimous consent to be added as a cosponsor on the 
resolution offered by both of our colleagues from Arkansas. I commend 
them highly for this. I hope all of our colleagues will join them.
  This is the kind of issue we need to speak out on. Incidents like 
these have caused great pain across the country. Yet, too often, the 
problem of school violence only receives attention at the moment a 
tragedy occurs.
  So I commend both of my colleagues and ask to be added as a 
cosponsor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to S.Res. 53 
appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S.Res. 53) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               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.

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