[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 70 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5366-S5367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH ON JUVENILE CRIME

  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, this week in the Senate, we are 
discussing legislation that is meant to address the seemingly ever-
growing problem of juvenile crime. Before we despair, let us recognize 
that the overwhelming majority of young people in America are good kids 
and don't get into trouble with the law and are making a substantial 
contribution to our society. In fact, in my State of Ohio, the 
adjudications of young people are down as well as incarceration of 
young offenders.
  However, most Americans cannot turn on television, read a newspaper, 
or pick up a magazine without being told about the crisis facing our 
society because of young people who have turned violent. The fact that 
this problem exists at all is a sad commentary on our modern society. 
However, it is a reality, and we have got to deal with it. The question 
is, How do we deal with it? As we in Congress try to answer that 
question we have to make sure that we take the time to deal with 
juvenile crime from the proper perspective.
  We cannot expect there to be a silver bullet or a quick fix that will 
solve our problems, although the recent tragedy in Littleton, CO, has 
intensified the urgency and our search for answers.
  Naturally, part of the solution to juvenile crimes is traditional 
crime prevention, penalties and sentences. However, these remedies, 
while important, only treat the symptoms of the disease and not the 
disease itself. I believe our focus should not only be on the symptoms 
of juvenile crime, but on the root causes as well.
  Two or three years ago, Princeton University Professor John DiIulio 
lamented over the upcoming ``predator generation'' because projected 
demographics showed a marked increase in the amount of young people who 
were going to become violent in our society. Professor DiIulio 
commented that we would have a real problem around 2010 to 2015 As 
Professor DiIulio stated, we have a generation, it seems, growing up in 
moral poverty. And that is the poverty of being without loving, 
capable, responsible adults who teach kids right from wrong.
  Concerned about his pronouncement, I convened a juvenile crime summit 
in 1997 in Ohio and again in 1998, as Governor. We found that it wasn't 
longer sentences or boot camps or harsher penalties that were required. 
What we found we needed to do was to get into the lives of our children 
at an early age, including while they are in their mother's womb, to 
give them the positive influences they need.
  Within the next two weeks, I will be introducing legislation along 
with Senator Bob Graham from Florida that will help us address the 
needs of our children in the most critical times of their lives--pre-
natal to three.
  When I was Governor, I often said that if I had a magic wand to solve 
Ohio's problems, I would reconstitute the family.
  It's the dysfunction of the family and the lack of moral and 
religious values that causes so many problems in our nation today.
  Too often our children are groundless--they have no honor nor fear of 
the Lord, nor any understanding of the 10 Commandments.
  I believe the best place to catch problems and prevent them from ever 
occurring is when children are at their youngest, when parents and 
young children are forming life-long attachments and when parents and 
other care-givers have an opportunity to construct lasting values.
  Government is a lousy substitute for the family. Unfortunately, there 
are circumstances where the government is the only alternative because 
there is no family in place.
  In these situations, we must look for the most effective way to give 
them our assistance.
  I truly believe there is something we can do to help in that respect.
  Today, thanks to decades of research on brain chemistry and through 
the utilization of sophisticated new technologies, neuro-scientists are 
telling us that the experiences that fill a baby's first days, months, 
and years have a decisive impact on the development of the brain and on 
the nature and extent of one's adult capacities.
  As a result of the research, we know that throughout the entire 
process of development, beginning before birth, the brain is affected 
by environmental conditions such as nourishment, nurturing and sensory 
stimulation; early childhood care has a decisive and long-lasting 
impact on how people develop their ability to learn, and their capacity 
to regulate their own emotions; there are times when negative 
experiences--or the absence of appropriate stimulation--are more likely 
to have serious and sustained effects, the period of prenatal to three 
is such a time in a child's development; the human brain has a 
remarkable capacity to change, but timing is crucial and the first 
three years of life appear to be the most influential period for growth 
and change.
  To ensure that children prenatal to three have the best possible 
start in life, we must establish specific support mechanisms to help 
parents and other adult care-givers. We have to become better partners.
  These include health care, nutrition programs, childcare, early 
intervention services, adoption assistance, education programs, and 
other support services.
  We must also reach out to parents--our children's first teachers and 
caregivers--to help them understand that the day-to-day interaction 
with children helps them to develop cognitively, socially and 
emotionally.
  A mother comforting her crying baby, a father holding and reading to 
his toddler and a care-giver singing and playing with an infant are not 
just involved in ``feel-good'' interactions.
  They are involved in biological activities that exert a powerful, 
enduring impact on the young child's physical, intellectual, emotional 
and social development.
  Mr. President, you know, with your large family, that these positive 
early childhood experiences give children a jump-start or a life-long 
learning opportunity.
  It is imperative that our nationwide education agenda be geared 
toward ensuring that children enter school ready to learn. Otherwise, 
we put our children at a grave disadvantage of not being well-rounded 
and productive members of society.
  In 1991, in my first State of the State Address, I drew a line in the 
sand in Ohio and said that this was going to be the last generation of 
children to go on welfare, go to jail, to get pregnant while they are 
teenagers.
  We make a commitment to Head Start, to enroll as many eligible 
children as possible and increasing the funding for that program from 
$18.4 million in fiscal year 1990 to $181.3 million in fiscal year 
1998.
  And, the fact of the matter is that today in Ohio, we have a slot for 
every child who is eligible for Head Start, public school, pre-school 
or special needs. Ohio leads the nation--and does so primarily with 
state tax dollars.
  In addition, we established Early Start, which was designed to 
provide early intervention services for children from pre-natal to 
three who are at significant risk of abuse, neglect or future 
developmental delay. It's just a fantastic program.

[[Page S5367]]

  I believe a Federal investment in our children at the most critical 
juncture of their lives--pre-natal to three--will do more to end the 
cycle of crime and violence in America than anything else the Senate 
could do.
  Studies looking at resiliency in adolescents are finding that a 
stable beginning contributes significantly to the youth's ability to 
take control and turn their life around.
  During consideration of this juvenile justice legislation, we have 
considered, and may still consider, controversial proposals associated 
with this bill that elicit either solid support of deep opposition.
  Yet, when it comes time to consider our legislation to provide 
enhanced prenatal-to-3 services, I am hopeful that proposal will 
receive support from both sides of the aisle.
  I will speak again on this issue when I introduce our legislation in 
the next 2 weeks.
  However, with the context of the floor debate, I could not pass up 
this opportunity to express my views on how best we can get to the root 
of juvenile crime in this country.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. During the debate over juvenile crime, we 
have heard a lot about the negative activities that juveniles 
participate in--playing violent video games, viewing unseemly sites on 
the Internet, and watching objectionable movies. But little has been 
said about the constructive things that kids can be--and are--doing 
with their time. It seems, sometimes, that there are few alternatives 
to the pollution that modern culture often feeds to our children.
  However, in my home state of Utah there are many programs that help 
children to focus their attention away from destructive activities. For 
example, the Police Athletic League in Ogden, Utah provides sports 
lessons and intramural teams for 325 kids. Police officers serve as 
mentors to children and supply much needed attention through athletic 
activities.
  The Hispanic Cultural Youth Program in Utah holds dances and social 
events that present a safe place for youth to socialize. And the LDS 
church has an extensive youth program that provides social events, 
educational activities, mentoring and community service activities.
  I want my colleagues to be aware of an excellent program in Arizona 
that gives juveniles positive alternatives to the destructive 
activities that contribute to juvenile crime. ``Kid-Star'' Radio 590 
AM, in Phoenix, allows children to produce, broadcast, and promote 
their own radio shows. Perry Damone, son of my good friend Vic Damone, 
has founded this program that places radio stations in the public 
schools and allows the children to control the broadcast. The kids run 
the entire program and have had phenomenal success with it. Over 3,000 
students throughout Arizona have participated in the program. 
Individual schools report an almost immediate improvement in over-all 
student responsibility, and better written and oral skills.
  Under this program, the students have conducted numerous interviews 
with prominent individuals including country singer Garth Brooks, 
comedian Jay Leno and our esteemed colleague Senator John McCain. 
Children have emerged from this program with a better self-esteem, 
greater maturity, and life skills.
  In S. 254, the Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability 
and Rehabilitation Act of 1999, the Federal Government is required to 
disseminate data on prevention programs that are successful. This bill 
provides over $1 billion a year to the States to fight juvenile crime 
and prevent juvenile delinquency. This money will help the Department 
of Justice isolate and encourage successful prevention programs. 
Programs like the Police Athletic League, the Hispanic Cultural Youth 
Program, and ``Kid-Star'' should receive our special attention and be 
encouraged to continue the good work that they do.
  As we continue to search for solutions to juvenile crime, let's 
remember the best solutions come from individuals working on a local 
level to make a difference. We can learn much from these initiatives on 
behalf of our children. I am extremely enthusiastic about the programs 
I have mentioned and hope the positive benefits of programs such as 
this can be extended to the entire Nation.

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