[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE YOUNG WITNESS ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1999

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                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, this week more than 350 young Americans 
gathered in our Nation's capitol to share their views about violence 
and how it has affected their lives. Three individuals from my 
district--Pierre Laurent and Amanda Abreu of Somerville, MA, and 
Yarimee Gutierrez of Boston, MA, came to Washington to take part in the 
Voices Against Violence conference. Their commitment to addressing the 
problems associated with violence among youth is to be commended, and I 
want to take this opportunity to personally thank them for their 
efforts to make a difference within their schools and communities.
  As Pierre, Amanda, Yarimee and the other participants of the 
conference return to their respective communities with a renewed 
commitment to this cause, I believe it is Congress' responsibility to 
do all that we can to support these young peoples' efforts. What better 
way to do this than to provide legislation that assists young people 
who are striving to do the right thing? For this reason, I rise today 
to introduce the Young Witness Assistance Act of 1999.
  Sadly, more and more of our Nation's youth are becoming intimately 
familiar with violent crime. These crimes include homicide, assault, 
robbery, domestic violence and sexual assault. Upon witnessing such 
violent crimes, they suddenly find themselves in the uncomfortable 
position of deciding whether or not to report the act. Far too often, 
many young people choose to stay quiet. In many ways, who can blame 
them? Witnessing a violent crime is a traumatic experience. 
Additionally, reporting a violent crime can potentially lead to 
additional hardships that threaten the well-being of the young witness. 
Earlier this year in Connecticut, an 8-year-old boy and his mother were 
gunned down after the boy agreed to testify as a witness in a murder 
trial. In my district, a young man and his family were harassed and 
threatened after he agreed to assist authorities in an armed robbery 
case--eventually his family removed the boy from school and placed him 
into hiding in reaction to repeated threats on his life.
  It's time we take a stand for the young people who are willing to 
stand against crimes in their communities. The Young Witness Assistance 
Act is a step in the right direction. It provides Federal funds to 
state and local authorities specifically for establishing and 
maintaining programs that assist young witnesses of violent crimes. 
Authorities can use these funds to develop such activities as 
counseling for the youth; pre- and post-trial assistance for the youth 
and their family; educational services if the youth has to be removed 
from school; community and school based outreach initiatives; and 
protective services. The bill would authorize $3 million for each 
fiscal year from 2001 to 2003. No new money will be used to fund this 
effort. Rather, funding would be derived from existing monies within 
the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill supports our Nation's young people who take a 
courageous stance against violent crime in their communities. It sends 
a message that Congress cares and is willing to provide the assistance 
young witnesses need. Forty-fix members of the House, Democrats and 
Republicans, have acknowledged this by becoming original cosponsors of 
this legislation. It is my hope that the House will ``do the right 
thing'' and pass this legislation.

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