[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 12 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S619-S621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN (for himself and Mr. Specter):
  S. 2061. A bill to establish a crime prevention and computer 
education initiative; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                           the kids 2000 act

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, there has been incredible prosperity that 
the vast majority of our country is benefiting from--and that 
prosperity was built on a combination of communication and computers. 
This technology has opened a whole new world for America. This new 
technology has driven our economic growth. And, the future lies with 
those who can master the tools of this new economic age.
  It wasn't too long ago that it looked like our time in the sun was 
behind us.

[[Page S620]]

Behind us was the idea of prosperity in our country. But times have 
changed over the past few years. And we stand here today with the 
prospect of a new era of prosperity.
  With flexible financial markets, a historic wave of entrepreneurial 
activity, and the convergence of new technologies from the personal 
computer to the Internet, we are transforming ourselves into what is 
now called the ``new economy.''
  Look at the numbers: In recent years, Information Technology 
industries contributed 35% to Gross Domestic Product growth. The 
Information Technology sector is growing at twice the rate of the rest 
of the economy. And by 2006, more than half of the U.S. workforce will 
be employed by industries that are either major producers, or intensive 
users, of Information Technology.
  A lot of what we do--manufacturing, shipping, marketing, are 
basically the same old functions. But we do virtually all of them in 
new and better ways thanks to the explosion of information technology. 
This has increased our productivity in ways that the best economists 
still don't completely understand.
  But, there is one thing that we do understand: those who can master 
technology will be able to benefit from this great expansion--and that 
is why we are here today. So no one is left behind.
  That is why today I am proud to be introducing legislation, aptly 
titled Kids 2000, that will be one step in our mission to provide all 
children with access to technology.
  It is my hope, that through a public/private partnership, led by 
members of Congress and Steve and Jean Case, state-of-the-art computer 
centers will be placed in Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. Located in 
largely under-served communities, Club computer centers will reach 
precisely the kids who need these resources the most. And none of these 
kids will be left behind.
  One goal of Kids 2000 is to help close the digital divide by 
providing kids with computers, internet access, and fully comprehensive 
technical training. As the wonders of computers become increasingly 
evident and celebrated, certain segments of society still lack access 
to these resources. Some segments are not participating in this 
technological revolution that is sweeping across our country.
  And the disparities are alarming. Look at the figures: Of households 
making over $75,000, 80% own computers and 60% use the Internet. Yet, 
for households making between $10,000-$15,000, only 16% own a computer 
and only 7% use the Internet.
  And it's not just income levels. There are disparities amongst races, 
education levels and geography. In addition, at all income levels, 
households with two parents are far more likely than one-parent 
households to own computers and have Internet access.
  The digital divide is also significant because the new digital 
economy can't run on computers alone. Businesses need workers with 
computer know-how and Internet literacy. Those who are not competent 
with the tools of technology will be left behind. Some of them are our 
kids. They are our responsibility and we cannot let this happen.
  And we know what happens to our kids when they are left behind. Their 
opportunities are vastly reduced, there is despair, and even criminal 
behavior. But there is something that we can do. And we are here today 
to begin a significant effort to do just that--to close the digital 
divide.
  Addressing the problems associated with the digital divide is not all 
this initiative seeks to do. Another goal is to reduce juvenile crime 
by providing kids with substantive after-school programs.
  Everyone has heard me say this time and time again, but let me say 
this one more time--prevention works.
  While kids are learning in these computer centers, they will be off 
the street and out of harm's way. They will be occupied with 
constructive activities. School dropout rates will be reduced because 
kids will realize that they have great potential. Kids 2000 is the 
ultimate after-school program.
  That is precisely why I have asked the Boys and Girls Clubs to host 
my computer initiative. For decades, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America 
have provided young people all across the United States with the 
support and inspiration they need to make it in a world full of peer 
pressure and crime.
  Kids 2000 also makes sense economically. It is estimated that 
allowing a single youth to drop out of high school and enter a life of 
drug abuse and crime costs society between $1.7 and $2.3 million. In 
comparison, Kids 2000 will cost the government a mere $40 per child.
  Because I believe that there is a role for the private sector, I have 
asked my good friends Jean and Steve Case and PowerUp to be an integral 
part of this initiative. That means computers, America On-Line 
accounts, educational curriculum, and fully comprehensive technical 
training in Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide.
  And PowerUp is not alone. 3-Com has committed to donating $1 million 
in networking equipment, MCI Worldcom will be donating educational 
software and training, American Airlines has agreed to donate free 
airline travel to train teachers, Ripple Effects Software will donate 
educational software, and Sabre Inc. will be donating computers.
  I want to thank all the corporations that have stepped forward and I 
hope that there will be many more in the coming months. We can't do 
this project without the private sector's help.
  I want to say thanks to Steve and Jean Case who have been in the 
forefront of this issue since the beginning and who are participating 
in this initiative in a very significant way. You know we could not do 
this without you and I appreciate your generosity and commitment to the 
cause.
  This initiative has brought together so many integral sectors of 
society. Business, government, the non-profit world. Together, we can 
make this program a success. Together we can make a difference in the 
lives of kids and provide our children with the tools they need to live 
and learn in a world that has become so dependent on technology.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of this bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2061

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Kids 2000 Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) There is an increasing epidemic of juvenile crime 
     throughout the United States.
       (2) It is well documented that the majority of juvenile 
     crimes take place during after-school hours.
       (3) Knowledge of technology is becoming increasingly 
     necessary for children in school and out of school.
       (4) The Boys and Girls Clubs of America have 2,300 clubs 
     throughout all 50 States, serving over 3,000,000 boys and 
     girls primarily from at-risk communities.
       (5) The Boys and Girls Clubs of America have the physical 
     structures in place for immediate implementation of an after-
     school technology program.
       (6) Building technology centers and providing integrated 
     content and full-time staffing at those centers in the Boys 
     and Girls Clubs of America nationwide will help foster 
     education, job training, and an alternative to crime for at-
     risk youth.
       (7) Partnerships between the public sector and the private 
     sector are an effective way of providing after-school 
     technology programs in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
       (8) PowerUp: Bridging the Digital Divide is an entity 
     comprised of more than a dozen nonprofit organizations, major 
     corporations, and Federal agencies that have joined together 
     to launch a major new initiative to help ensure that 
     America's underserved young people acquire the skills, 
     experiences, and resources they need to succeed in the 
     digital age.
       (9) Bringing PowerUp into the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
     America will be an effective way to ensure that our youth 
     have a safe, crime-free environment in which to learn the 
     technological skills they need to close the divide between 
     young people who have access to computer-based information 
     and technology-related skills and those who do not.

     SEC. 3. AFTER-SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY GRANTS TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS 
                   CLUBS OF AMERICA.

       (a) Purposes.--The Attorney General shall make grants to 
     the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for the purpose of 
     funding effective after-school technology programs, such as 
     PowerUp, in order to provide--
       (1) constructive technology-focussed activities that are 
     part of a comprehensive program to provide access to 
     technology and technology training to youth during after-

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     school hours, weekends, and school vacations;
       (2) supervised activities in safe environments for youth; 
     and
       (3) full-time staffing with teachers, tutors, and other 
     qualified personnel.
       (b) Subawards.--The Boys and Girls Clubs of America shall 
     make subawards to local boys and girls clubs authorizing 
     expenditures associated with providing technology programs 
     such as PowerUp, including the hiring of teachers and other 
     personnel, procurement of goods and services, including 
     computer equipment, or such other purposes as are approved by 
     the Attorney General.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS.

       (a) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a 
     grant under this Act, an applicant for a subaward (specified 
     in section 3(b)) shall submit an application to the Boys and 
     Girls Clubs of America, in such form and containing such 
     information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
       (b) Application Requirements.--Each application submitted 
     in accordance with subsection (a) shall include--
       (1) a request for a subgrant to be used for the purposes of 
     this Act;
       (2) a description of the communities to be served by the 
     grant, including the nature of juvenile crime, violence, and 
     drug use in the communities;
       (3) written assurances that Federal funds received under 
     this Act will be used to supplement and not supplant, non-
     Federal funds that would otherwise be available for 
     activities funded under this Act;
       (4) written assurances that all activities funded under 
     this Act will be supervised by qualified adults;
       (5) a plan for assuring that program activities will take 
     place in a secure environment that is free of crime and 
     drugs;
       (6) a plan outlining the utilization of content-based 
     programs such as PowerUp, and the provision of trained adult 
     personnel to supervise the after-school technology training; 
     and
       (7) any additional statistical or financial information 
     that the Boys and Girls Clubs of America may reasonably 
     require.

     SEC. 5. GRANT AWARDS.

       In awarding subgrants under this Act, the Boys and Girls 
     Clubs of America shall consider--
       (1) the ability of the applicant to provide the intended 
     services;
       (2) the history and establishment of the applicant in 
     providing youth activities; and
       (3) the extent to which services will be provided in crime-
     prone areas and technologically underserved populations, and 
     efforts to achieve an equitable geographic distribution of 
     the grant awards.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2006 to 
     carry out this Act.
       (b) Source of Funds.--Funds to carry out this Act may be 
     derived from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
       (c) Continued Availability.--Amounts made available under 
     this section shall remain available until expended.
                                 ______