[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6960-H6961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING 
                 GOALS AND IDEAS OF NATIONAL YOUTH DAY

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 375) recognizing the importance 
of children in the United States and supporting the goals and ideas of 
National Youth Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 375

       Whereas national evidence indicates that America's youth 
     are faced with oppressive issues, such as violence, drugs, 
     abuse, and even family stress, causing the future of the 
     youth of the United States, and therefore the future of the 
     Nation, to be at risk;
       Whereas youth in America, regardless of their economic 
     status, ethnic or cultural heritage, or geographic location, 
     are experiencing the pressures caused by contemporary 
     society;
       Whereas although Americans realize the challenges of 
     today's busy lifestyles and balancing work schedules and 
     youth activities, they remain committed to education, 
     physical fitness, and civic-mindedness;
       Whereas it is imperative that the people of the United 
     States act willfully and purposely to secure a positive 
     future for the Nation by devoting time to youth, sharing 
     traditions, and communicating values to children in an effort 
     to sustain ongoing relationships with caring adults;
       Whereas America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth, led by 
     General Colin L. Powell, United States Army (retired), is one 
     of the Nation's most comprehensive nonprofit organizations 
     dedicated to building and strengthening the character and 
     competence of youth by mobilizing the Nation to fulfill the 
     organization's ``Five Promises'' for young people:
       (1) ongoing relationships with caring adults;
       (2) safe places with structured activities during nonschool 
     hours;
       (3) a healthy start and future;
       (4) marketable skills through effective education; and
       (5) opportunities to give back through community service;
       Whereas the citizens of the United States will celebrate 
     American Youth Day and encourage all youth organizations to 
     participate annually on a Saturday near the beginning of the 
     school year; and
       Whereas American Youth Day will provide opportunities for 
     America's youth to reclaim the values which foster trust and 
     build better communication and which will encourage parents, 
     grandparents, and extended families to recognize the 
     importance of being involved in the physical and emotional 
     lives of their children: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance of youth to the future of the 
     United States;
       (2) supports the goals and ideas of American Youth Day; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to 
     participate in local and national activities that seek to 
     fulfill the Five Promises to America's youth, as established 
     by America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) and a member of the minority each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 375.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 375, 
offered by my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum).
  House Concurrent Resolution 375 recognizes the importance of children 
and supports the goals and ideas of American youth today. This 
resolution enjoys bipartisan support, and I am pleased to have the 
opportunity today to speak on behalf of it.
  America's young people, regardless of their economic status, ethnic 
heritage, or geographic location are faced every day with difficult 
problems, such as violence, drug abuse, and even family stress.

                              {time}  2320

  Unfortunately, these problems also put the future of our youth and 
Nation at risk. Yet, these same young people are the key to the future 
of our country. They will eventually be making decisions that will not 
only affect current generations, but many generations to follow.
  Accordingly, the people of the United States should act purposefully 
to help secure a positive future for the Nation by devoting time to our 
youth, sharing traditions and communicating moral values to our 
children.
  One organization dedicated to helping our youth and getting adults 
involved in the lives of children and young people is America's 
Promise, the Alliance for Youth. This nonprofit organization chaired by 
General Colin Powell is devoted to strengthening the character and 
competence of children through the fulfillment of five promises.
  These five promises are: every young person deserves ongoing 
relationships with caring adults; secondly, every young person deserves 
safe places with structured activities during nonschool hours; third, 
every young person deserves a healthy start and future; fourth, every 
young person deserves marketable skills through effective education; 
and, fifth, every young person deserves opportunities to give back 
through community service.
  Mr. Speaker, research on the impact of these five promises is 
compelling. Studies show that children and young people who are guided 
by these promises are less likely to engage in negative behaviors. In 
fact, children that have mentors or adults involved in their lives are 
46 percent less likely to start using drugs, 27 percent less likely to 
start using alcohol, 33 percent less likely to hit or strike others, 
and 53 percent less likely to skip school.
  Mr. Speaker, this concurrent resolution is very simple and 
straightforward. It rightfully recognizes the importance of our 
Nation's children. It supports the goals and ideals of Youth Day. 
American Youth Day will help to provide opportunities for America's 
youth to reclaim the values that foster trust and the building of 
better relationships with adults and others.
  American Youth Day will also serve to encourage parents, 
grandparents, and extended families to be actively involved in the 
physical and emotional lives of their children, grandchildren and 
others.
  I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) for his 
leadership on the matter, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support 
of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume, and I rise to support the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a legislative initiative offered by a member of 
my committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum), chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Crime. I am an original

[[Page H6961]]

cosponsor of this legislation, and I rise to support the legislation 
for American Youth Day.
  It was a few years ago that Colin Powell came to Texas, as he did to 
many other States, to begin to talk to Americans about the importance 
of focusing on children, the importance of focusing on youth. We have 
seen the results of the devastation of the different lives that our 
youth live, and that is, of course, the challenges of violence and drug 
abuse, the challenges of living in families that have been separated.
  It is important for our children to be affirmed. This resolution 
affirms the fact that our youth have the right to have promises. Those 
promises include ongoing relationships with caring adults, safe places 
with structured activities during nonschool hours, a healthy start and 
future, marketable skills through effective education, and 
opportunities to give back through community service. I would add to 
that, Mr. Speaker, the opportunity for good housing, the opportunity 
for good food and to be nourished, the opportunity for good health 
care.
  This legislation will remind this Congress and remind Americans to 
reaffirm our values and our commitment to youth.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, the supporters of this 
legislation, this is also a resolution to support American Youth Day. I 
would like to salute a constituent of mine, Ovide Duncantell, who came 
to me some years ago to advocate for a children's day. We have now come 
to that point, and I hope that Americans all over the Nation will 
support our commitment to our youth and to add their support of our 
youth with these five promises.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of all children, but more 
specifically for a sound solution before the floor today, H. Con. Res. 
375. This resolution titled ``Recognizing the Importance of Children in 
the U.S. and Supporting National Youth Day'' sums up in few words, what 
I myself feel very strongly about.
  It is indeed imperative that we take the time to acknowledge and 
support our children everyday, and that as a nation we recognize all 
children regardless of economic, religious, or ethnic background. 
Highlighting affirmatives steps at least one week of the year as this 
resolution requests is very important.
  General Colin Powell began ``America's Promise--The Alliance for 
Youth'' in 1997. His dream as well as the dream of the entire 
organization was that as a nation we reached a specified goal where 
children are concerned.
  Under a National Youth Day program certain steps would be implemented 
to achieve desired effects. The five main goals that are listed in this 
resolution include strong relationships with adults, structured after-
school activities, a healthy outlook, education, and community service.
  The idea is that children will gain enrichment with these elements 
presented if only for a week in schools nationwide. That the effects of 
this one week in the schools will extend to children's personal lives, 
as well as infiltrating their home to affect the entire family.
  This week would encompass having the ideas of positive adult role 
models that should be present in an ongoing relationship, whether it is 
in the home or through mentorship. The week emphasizes: An increased 
awareness of structured activities during non-school hours that are 
available in the neighborhood, for all children to participate in; a 
dedication from each school that participates to provide healthy starts 
and futures for each child in their care; to help provide future 
initiatives by establishing marketable skills through effective 
education; and finally, the involvement of children in programs that 
allows them to connect to their communities through service projects.
  These five combined goals will allow for positive development within 
America's homes and schools. Recognition of youth is essential to the 
well being of our country. I know this is something we as Members of 
congress all understand and wish to make strides towards accomplishing. 
In the process of developing these programs that encompass our youth, 
we the members of a legislative body are taking a much larger step in 
building the future of our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am one of the supporters of this. I 
believe very strongly in Colin Powell's America's Promise to Youth. We 
have such a program in Montgomery County in which we engage, and I 
salute the measure. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the support of this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 375 which recognizes 
the importance of children in the United States and encourages the 
efforts of groups such as General Colin Powell's America's Promise.
  By establishing a Youth Day prior to the coming school year, local 
communities will be able to promote General Powell's ``Five Promises'' 
to our nation's youth. These ostensibly simple promises of providing 
our children with caring adults, safe places, healthy starts, 
marketable skills, and opportunities to serve, enable us to foster 
future generations of productive and contributing Americans.
  It is crucial for our community and business leaders to take an 
active role in the lives of our youth. Each year, in my district, 
members of my staff participate in a program called ``Partners in 
Education'' which pairs businesses with schools for the purpose of 
tutoring.
  The program's greatest strength is its direct link to local school 
districts and community leaders throughout the country. Through its 
7,500 grassroots member programs, Partners In Education connects 
children and classroom teachers with corporate, education, volunteer, 
government, and civic leaders. These partners play significant roles in 
changing the content and delivery of education services to children and 
their families.
  During the 1999-2000 school year, my staff tutored Fourth and Fifth 
graders from Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This 
school has an amazingly diverse student body with 42 percent Latino, 29 
percent African American, 8 percent Asian, and 21 percent White. Summit 
Hall also had over 62 percent of its students participating in the Free 
And Reduced Meals (FARM) program in their cafeterias. By helping 
Principal Craig Logue and the hard working teachers of Summit Hall, 
members of my staff provided the students they tutored with the extra 
one-on-one attention that they needed. The National Youth Day 
legislation continues in this same spirit of service to the youth of 
our nation.
  I often tell educators in my district that when you touch a rock . . 
. you touch the past . . . When you touch a flower . . . you touch the 
present . . . When you touch a child . . . you touch the future.
  I ask for your support of H. Con. Res. 375 and encourage all members 
of this body to sponsor a Youth Day in their district.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Tancredo). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 375, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Recognizing the importance of children in the United States and 
supporting the goals and ideas of American Youth Day''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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