[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 THE NATIONAL YOUTH VIOLENCE COMMISSION

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                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 1999

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the Columbine High School tragedy 
and its aftershocks still haunt our memories. Statesmen, pundits and 
ordinary citizens ask questions every day as to why our children are 
murdering their peers. Clearly, the mere fact that we must ask these 
questions demonstrates that a real crisis exists and needs to be 
addressed immediately. While no one has any definitive answers, many 
opinions have been put forth without reaching any consensus. These 
opinions are multi-faceted and have included: the de-moralization and 
de-humanization of our youth due to a ``culture of violence'' 
perpetuated by the media, the non-enforcement of existing laws 
regarding firearms, and the degradation of families and communities due 
to this ``culture of violence.''
  All of these opinions likely point to sources of the problem of teen 
violence, but they do not reveal the possibility of one single and 
simple solution. In order to put a halt to the specter of teen 
violence, an investigation should be made into its causes and to its 
probable solutions. Such a Commission should be bi-partisan, and it 
should be appointed equally by the President of the United States and 
Leaders in Congress from both the Majority and Minority parties. In the 
best interests of the Nation, the Commission will come to some form of 
a consensus concerning the various natures of, and the solutions to, 
the extreme teen violence that is plaguing our society.
  These tragedies are too important to ignore, and too important not to 
focus all of our resources on discovering their root causes and 
possible solutions. That is why I, along with Representatives Markey 
and Tierney, am introducing legislation to create a national Commission 
that will be asked to conduct an in-depth analysis of teen violence. 
The Commission would be made up of a panel of experts that include 
religious figures, teachers, law enforcement officials, counselors, 
psychologists, and research groups that deal with family issues. 
Hopefully, a Commission that contains such experts will be able to 
appraise the situation accurately and make the necessary 
recommendations.
  Upon completion of its work, the commission will be responsible for 
submitting to Congress and the President a report detailing possible 
steps to reduce the level of juvenile violence in America. While this 
is not a problem that will be solved overnight, and there are some 
serious ideological differences that need be overcome, I am hopeful 
that this Commission can help us in preventing similar tragedies from 
occurring in the future, and at least begin to address the plague of 
youth violence that is tearing the very fabric of our nation.

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