[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 69 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CALLING ON THE SPEAKER TO CONVENE A STUDY SESSION ON YOUTH VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of weeks, 
this Congress has confronted a very tragic event dealing with our 
children. The American people have heard us speak in many different 
ways. We have raised our voices in sympathy, in fear, in apprehension.
  We have raised our voices, reaching out for solutions. We have even 
spoken in outrage, and we have also expressed pain for those parents 
who lost their children, and for those whose children are still mending 
from wounds suffered in Littleton, Colorado.
  There have been a number of hearings, Mr. Speaker. Today, in fact, I 
thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) of the Committee on 
the Judiciary and the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers), for holding such a hearing in the Committee on the Judiciary.
  I made up my mind, Mr. Speaker, upon hearing of the enormous tragedy, 
feeling a deeply embedded pain, but yet not being able to stand in the 
shoes of those parents who had actually lost their child or being 
involved by being part of that community, but I did make a commitment 
to say that I would not expend any more words about the tragedy if I 
could not do something constructive.
  I have the honor and pleasure of having founded the Congressional 
Children's Caucus, with a number of exciting issues that we have had to 
confront, and Members who have committed themselves by being a 
participant of that caucus in promoting children as a national agenda 
item.
  We have decided to work on the question of confronting a child's 
inability to cope. In the hearing today, I was somewhat disturbed 
because I kept hearing the very well-versed witnesses seem to suggest 
it was the other fellow's fault. We had representatives from the media, 
we had faith-based representatives, we had those who talked about gun 
regulation, others who talked about the need for morality in schools. I 
think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we acknowledge that all of us 
can help, and there are many solutions to this problem.
  I am going to today ask the Speaker of the House to convene those 
Members of this Congress who have expressed a particular interest in 
children, either by way of the caucuses and task forces they belong to 
or other expressions of that interest, so that, like the White House, 
we can convene a study session to promote action on these issues.
  I would propose that we not be fearful of addressing the President's 
initiative on gun regulation, because we have already heard that 
several leaders of the gun lobby, if you will, or organizations, would 
agree with holding adults responsible if children get guns in their 
hands, a part of his initiative, or not allowing individuals who are 18 
and under or 21 and under to get handguns, and having a safety lock on 
guns.
  Why would we be apprehensive about regulating guns, when we have over 
260 million guns, and 13 children die every day? I am aghast that the 
other body would not want to support an initiative that would have an 
instant gun check at gun shows, when so many people have indicated that 
things happen wrong when we do not determine who is trying to get a 
gun.
  I am looking at another perspective, Mr. Speaker, one where I 
advocate the involvement of the faith-based community. I welcome that. 
I hope our schools, in keeping with the first amendment and separation 
of church and State, will not turn away individuals, ministers, as we 
do in Houston, where we have a Ministers Against Crime organization. We 
welcome them into the schools.
  Tomorrow I will hold a town hall meeting at Scarborough High School 
in my district with the Secretary of Education on school violence. We 
will be inviting the ministers. We will be listening to students.
  We should not sit back and say what we cannot do. What I am hearing, 
what is being pled for by students who say they have no one to talk to, 
they want action now, Mr. Speaker. Why are we pointing the finger at 
each and every person, the international games, the video games?
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, let me say that we cannot deny that we do not 
have mental health services for our children K through 12, 
intervention, at an early stage. So I propose an omnibus bill on 
children's mental health in which I will look to ensure that all of the 
pieces are in place.
  I hope my colleagues will join me at the offering of that 
legislation, because we all can be a part of the solution and not part 
of the problem. Let us stop pointing the finger, let us get to work.

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