[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF LITTLETON, COLORADO, AND FOR CONCERNED SCHOOL 
                   OFFICIALS WORKING TO HELP CHILDREN

  (Ms. PRYCE of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, the deaths caused by two troubled 
youths in Littleton, Colorado, point out the tragedy of those lonely, 
alienated teens in our society who feel there is no one to help, no one 
to turn to when their lives seem empty and pointless.
  Many turn to self-destructive outlets: drugs, alcohol, nihilistic 
subcultures which celebrate death and destruction. They think there is 
no one to help them, but they are wrong. The help that is offered by 
parents, teachers, school psychologists and kindly guidance counselors 
is rejected. No one can reach them.
  But those whose occupations touch the lives of our teenagers must not 
lose heart. They must continue to do the good work that they rightly 
take pride in. They must not be discouraged by the failures that they 
see, the children whom they cannot comfort, and the anger they cannot 
dispel.
  Our prayers go out today to the people of Littleton, and to all those 
school officials who try so hard to help all of our children.

                          ____________________