[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 112 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1541-E1542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PARTICIPANTS IN THE STUDENT CONGRESSIONAL TOWN MEETING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2000

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the outstanding work done 
by participants in my Student Congressional Town Meeting held this 
summer. These participants were part of a group of high school students 
from around Vermont who testified about the concerns they have as 
teenagers, and about what they would like to see the government do 
regarding these concerns.
  I submit the following statements into the Congressional Record, as I 
believe that the views of these young persons will benefit my 
colleagues.

      Rami Faour and Pat Griffin Regarding the Legal Drinking Age

       Rami Faour: Representative Sanders, and other distinguished 
     guests, we are here to

[[Page E1542]]

     speak about lowering the drinking age to help alleviate the 
     problem with teen drinking. We understand that there are a 
     large number of people between the ages of 18 and 20 who 
     drink regardless of the law, and many of them even binge 
     drink. Even though the legal drinking age is 21, many teens 
     are able to purchase alcohol to consume on their own. 18 to 
     20 year olds can pay taxes, adopt a child, be drafted into 
     the military, hold firearms, but they are not allowed to 
     touch alcohol. This is an illogical inconsistency and 
     infringement of civil rights on this age group. They are 
     legal adults in every other respect and ironically not a lot 
     of these legal adults who drink illegally increase the 
     alcohol use and abuse it is meant to reduce.
       Alcohol has become a forbidden fruit for teens. Drinking is 
     more exciting when it is illegal than when it is legal. So 
     many people go out and get drunk simply because they know 
     they should not be drinking at all. Just look at our American 
     history, we saw prohibition backfire. Instead of stopping it, 
     it glorified it and we had increased alcohol. We see teens 
     following that pattern.
       Pat Griffin: The solution to this topic is a realistic 
     drinking age combined with education of teens about drinking. 
     There is no reason that an 18-year-old cannot drink as 
     responsibly or even more responsibly than a 24-year-old. The 
     level of maturity between these two ages are about the same. 
     The solution is to educate young youths in how to drink 
     responsibly for the first step but current alcohol education 
     in high school, and in college set up on how to drink 
     responsibly and ending with the message ``Do not drink 
     because you would be too young.'' First we need to educate 
     teens, then we need to trust them. If we treat them like 
     children, they will act like children. If you treat them as 
     responsible adults, they will act maturely. With these steps 
     we see many different changes of attitudes and behavior of 
     young adults.
       We wish to thank you for your time to educate young adults 
     in how to drink responsibly and then let them drink 
     responsibly. Thank you.

                                  ____
                                  

       Kyle Rose, Erin Gover and Kim Klein Regarding Teen Centers

       Erin Gover: Good morning. My name is Erin Gover and today I 
     will be speaking on the topic of funding of teen centers 
     throughout Vermont.
       For years society has been asking why teens turn to alcohol 
     and drugs. So far we have concluded that the solution to this 
     issue is positive alternatives. Well, teen centers are 
     positive alternatives. Yet, out of all the towns in Vermont, 
     Colchester is one of the only ones that does not have one. 
     Yet, for three years organizations like the Colchester Growth 
     Group have founded buildings, got the community's support and 
     fundraised the money for a teen center, but to no avail. In 
     its place is a gas station, a quicky mart, or even a bar. I 
     do not know about you, but I would rather have my child going 
     to a teen center where he or she can hang out with his 
     friends, get help on homework, or just have a good time 
     rather than hanging out at a bar.
       To compensate for this teens founded Club 242 located under 
     Memorial Auditorium in downtown Burlington. Club 242 is a 
     place where high school bands can play, get their start, and 
     other high schoolers can come watch, have a good time, and 
     just hang out. And there is absolutely no alcohol, no drugs 
     and no smoking, a positive alternative you might say. Yet 
     funding is currently being taken away from Club 242. Why? 
     This leaves Burlington and Colchester with about three 
     alternatives: shopping, movies and drugs. And it is the City 
     of Burlington and the Town of Colchester that are making this 
     decision, not the teens.
       It is also your decision. As our representative, I believe 
     you should make it your goal to not only make all of your 
     fellow congressmen aware of the need for funding, but also to 
     use your influence to pass a bill making it possibly a 
     requirement for each town to have a teen center, a positive 
     alternative. You should make yourself aware of these teen 
     centers and make sure funding is not taken
       The youth of Vermont have worked on this for years and 
     continue to rally the support of the community. We are 
     trying, but it is now your turn to help. And remember, 
     actions speak louder than words.
       Kim Klein: 90 percent of the reason why children go out and 
     cause trouble is because there is not really anything for 
     them to do. I mean there are parks and stuff like that, but 
     most children will either go out and hand out in front of 
     stores or stuff like that and go to parties, because there is 
     nothing constructive for them to do. And as Erin said, Club 
     242, being a musician and playing in high school bands, it is 
     hard for us to get anywhere. I mean, we played there, but to 
     be able to play in other towns and stuff, there aren't places 
     for us to do that because they are all bars.

                                  ____
                                  

   Matt Plunkett and Ryan Esbjerg Regarding Teen Drinking and Driving

       Matthew Plunkett: Congressman Sanders, eight young people 
     die a day in alcohol-related crashes. During a typical 
     weekend and average of one teenager dies each hour in a car 
     crash; nearly 50 percent of those crashes involve alcohol. 
     Alcohol is the number one drug problem among young people. 
     This is a serious problem not only here in Vermont, but also 
     across the nation. Drunk driving causes many deaths each year 
     and many of us have suffered from the loss of friends and 
     family who have died because of bad decisions involving 
     alcohol and vehicles. When we look at the statistics on a 
     national level, they may not seem very high but there is 
     still a problem and more needs to be done, but then there is 
     never enough that can be done until the problem ceases to 
     exist.
       We feel there should be more programs helping inform young 
     drivers in training of the risks of how much more of a chance 
     they have of getting in an accident while intoxicated. In our 
     opinion there should be more funding or there should be 
     funding for a problem that states some of the evils involved 
     in alcohol-related crashes.
       Ryan Esbjerg: These vehicles should not be overlooked. They 
     are an educational resource that could be placed on display 
     in private locations or driver's education classes can view 
     the crash first-hand. Once young people see the results of 
     one of these crashes, it might prevent them from making the 
     same mistake as others. The viewing of the wreckage of cars 
     in which people have died makes an impression that no film or 
     lecture can match.
       We keep track of history for a reason, to learn from 
     mistakes and the mistake of drinking and driving is repeated 
     too often. The accidents do not just affect the family of the 
     driver or the passenger, they affect the whole community. We 
     are urging you to extend the education of this subject, help 
     save lives in any way that is possible, because you never 
     know when it is your family member or your best friend you 
     could read about in the newspaper.
       Thank you for your time.

       

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