[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9418-S9419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CHANNEL ONE NETWORK

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I will ask to include in the 
Congressional Record two letters recognizing the efforts of the Channel 
One Network in educating school-age children in the dangers of drug 
use.
  These letters were originally included in the transcript of the 
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on 
July 13 regarding Drug Free Schools.
  The first is from Richard Bonnette, President of the Partnership for 
a Drug Free America. Mr. Bonnette thanks Channel One for supporting the 
mission of Partnership for a Drug-Free America by changing millions of 
young people's attitudes about drugs.
  In the second letter, I join Mr. Bonnette's praise of Channel One's 
airing of $25 million worth of pro bono anti-drug public service 
announcements over the last ten years as part of its news broadcasts to 
school-aged children.
  I am pleased to join Mr. Bonnette in congratulating Channel One on 
their efforts.
  I ask that these letters be printed in the Record.
  The letters follow.

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                    Washington, DC, July 14, 1999.
     Hon. James Jeffords,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I respectfully request that the attached 
     letter from Richard Bonnette, President and CEO of the 
     Partnership for a Drug-Free America be made a part of the 
     record for the Committee's July 13, 1999 hearing on Drug Free 
     Schools.
       Mr. Bonnette writes in praise of the excellent public 
     service of the Channel One Network in educating our nation's 
     youth about the dangers of drug use. I would like to join Mr. 
     Bonnette's praise of the Channel One Network.
       Over the past ten years, Channel One has aired more than 
     $25 million worth of anti-drug public service announcements 
     as part of its news broadcasts to school-aged children. The 
     efforts of the Channel One Network demonstrates good 
     corporate citizenship. When we in Congress call upon the 
     media and entertainment industries to act responsibly for the 
     benefit of our children, this is part of what we are talking 
     about.
       Mr. Bonnette's letter refers to a study conducted between 
     1995-1997 by the Partnership for a Drug Free America. The 
     study found strong evidence that students in Channel One 
     schools had significantly more negative attitudes about 
     drugs, and were much more aware of the risks of drugs than 
     students in non-Channel One schools. I am pleased to here add 
     my praise of their efforts.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Sam Brownback,
     U.S. Senator.
                                  ____

                                                 Partnership For a


                                            Drug-Free America,

                                       New York, NY, May 14, 1999.
     Mr. Kevin McAliley,
     President and CEO, Channel One Network,
     New York, NY.
       Dear Mr. McAliley: I am writing to thank Channel One for 
     its unceasing dedication and steadfast commitment to 
     educating the young people of this country about the dangers 
     of drug use. Channel One has supported the Partnership's 
     mission by extensively covering the drug issue through your 
     programming and by airing more than $25 million worth of 
     anti-drug public service announcements--pro bono--since your 
     inception in 1990. The incontrovertible fact is that because 
     of Channel One, millions of teens are keeping away from 
     drugs.
       For the past ten years, Channel One has been instrumental 
     in supporting Partnership for a Drug-Free America's mission 
     by changing millions of young people's attitudes about drugs. 
     This is not speculation--it is fact. The Partnership 
     conducted the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, 1995-1997 
     and compared Channel One students' attitudes towards drug use 
     versus those of students from non-Channel One schools. The 
     study found conclusive evidence that Channel One students had 
     significantly more negative attitudes about drugs and were 
     much more

[[Page S9419]]

     aware of the risks of drugs than students in non-Channel One 
     schools. By utilizing your Web site, Channel One has also 
     been able to expand its reach beyond the Channel One school 
     audience and encourage national youth involvement in this 
     issue.
       Please accept our thanks and congratulations for Channel 
     One's important work. Channel One's passion and concern for 
     America's children is admirable and your support of the 
     Partnership has been vital in reinforcing anti-drug messages 
     to teens.
           Sincerely,
     Richard D. Bonnette.

                          ____________________