[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 92 (Monday, July 17, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7066-S7067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       HEALTHY CULTURE INITIATIVE

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the ground-
breaking and encouraging work being performed by the Healthy Culture 
Initiative, a non-profit group with which I am honored to be 
associated. The Healthy Culture Initiative (HCI) is an organization 
committed to strengthening and improving the health of America's 
culture by recognizing and replicating the many innovative, local 
initiatives aimed at solving community challenges.
  The Healthy Culture Initiative recognizes that there are many 
challenges we face as a nation--over the last thirty years, we have 
seen huge increases in family breakdown, out-of-wedlock births, single 
parent families, teen suicide, drug abuse, violence, and civic 
disengagement. But for every problem in America, there is already a 
solution--a solution that is in place in neighborhoods across America. 
Indeed, many of the most effective solutions to the complex social 
problems of crime, drug abuse, family breakdown, teen suicide, 
illegitimacy, and poverty arise from the committed efforts of a small 
group of individuals working within their own community.
  The Healthy Culture Initiative seeks to recognize these exciting 
efforts, and encourage their replication. HCI has four primary 
objectives:
  First, through a series of Success Summits to be held in cities 
across America, the Healthy Culture Initiative will recognize, and help 
replicate, community-based solutions to pressing social challenges.
  Second, the Healthy Culture Initiative will jump-start important 
civic dialogue about ways that ordinary people, working alone or in 
small groups, can help strengthen families, schools, neighborhoods, and 
ultimately, our Nation.
  Third, HCI will measure the success of new initiatives. In 
conjunction with the Gallup organization, the Healthy Culture 
Initiative will work to quantify the actual results of each new 
initiative launched, so that resources and attention can be 
concentrated on the most effective efforts.
  And finally, HCI will develop a network of information resources, 
including web links and educational materials, to assist community 
activists in initiating new programs in their neighborhoods.
  I can personally attest to the exciting work undertaken by the 
Healthy Culture Initiative, in that I and Senator Joe Lieberman, 
currently serve as honorary co-chairs. I am excited by the caliber and 
quality of individuals who are leading this initiative--including Don 
Clifton, President and CEO of the Gallup Corporation; Charles Krulak, 
former Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Executive Director 
Cindy Cobb; Don Eberly, CEO of the

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National Fatherhood Initiative, Curt Smith of the Hudson Institute, Jay 
Speigel of the Reserve Officers Association, and many others.
  The plans of the Healthy Culture Initiative are ambitious and wide-
ranging. It is my hope that by celebrating the many exciting success 
stories taking place in our communities across America, we can 
encourage their replication--and build a healthier culture, and a 
stronger America.

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