[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS NEED TO BE EXPANDED

  (Mr. OBEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, the response of the House Committee on Rules 
to the events at Columbine High School will be to allow the House to 
vote on treating 13-year-olds as adults in court, but they refuse to 
allow my amendment to be voted on, which would have greatly expanded 
comprehensive school-based programs to provide for early identification 
and intervention with emotionally troubled youth who give indication 
that they might be prone to violent acts.
  I would make one point. Those two kids at Columbine would not have 
been deterred by the threat to be tried as an adult in court. They were 
willing to be killed to make their twisted statement. They might have 
responded to early mental health counseling and intervention.
  This House unfortunately today will not pass thoughtful legislation 
affecting school violence. It will, instead, pass political press 
releases. We ought to be able to do better.

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