[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTION OF THE YOUNGER AMERICANS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to 
introduce, along with my colleagues Mrs. Roukema, Mr. Frost, and Mr. 
Gilman, the Younger Americans Act. This is landmark legislation that 
will dramatically increase after-school opportunities for young 
children and teenagers by providing them with adult mentors, education, 
sports, and volunteer activities.
  As any parent or teacher knows, the best way to keep kids out of 
trouble and help them learn and grow is to keep them busy and give them 
opportunity. Today's bill is an historic opportunity to dramatically 
expand safe and exciting programs for children and youth after school, 
a time when too many kids suffer from a lack of activity and adult 
supervision. A recent Urban institute study found that one in five 
young people age 6-12 are left without adult supervision after school 
and before their parents come home from work, a critical period during 
the day to keep youth both positively engaged and out of trouble.
  Thirty-five years ago, Congress made a decision to help seniors and 
passed the Older Americans Act. In doing so, Congress launched a series 
of highly effective local efforts that have improved and enriched the 
lives of our nation's elderly. It helped pay for senior centers, Meals 
on Wheels, and community service programs like Green Thumb.
  For too long, however, Congress has ignored the needs of our nation's 
young people. It has failed to make the issues of young people a 
priority and has failed to make an adequate investment in their 
development and well-being.
  Our new bill attempts to correct that oversight. Today, we seek to 
repeat the success of the Older Americans Act by funding a national 
network of high-quality programs tailored to the particular challenges 
faced by youth today.
  Too often, we find that public programs for young people focus on the 
problems of youth and promote piecemeal policies that seek to redress 
negative behaviors like juvenile delinquency or teen pregnancy.
  But the evidence shows that the most promising approaches are those 
that foster positive youth development, build social and emotional 
competence, and link young people with adult mentors. This is the 
future of youth social programs in the 21st century and it is an 
approach we seek to advance through this legislation.
  The Younger Americans Act will help coordinate and fund youth-
mentoring, community service through volunteerism, structured academic 
and recreational opportunities, and other activities aimed at fostering 
the positive educational and social development of teens and pre-teens.
  Under the bill, the federal government would distribute funds by 
formula to community boards that would oversee the planning, operation, 
and evaluation of local programs. Funding for local programs in the 
initial year would be $500 million, and would rise to $2 billion in 
2005, in addition to matching funds provided by local and state 
governments and the private sector.
  To qualify, each local program would be required to adopt a 
comprehensive and coordinated system of youth programs with the 
following five general components: ongoing relationships with caring 
adults; safe places with structured activities; access to services that 
promote healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve 
physical and mental health; opportunities to acquire marketable skills 
and competencies; and, opportunities for community service and civic 
participation.
  Thirty percent of funds would be targeted to youth programs that 
address specific, urgent areas of need such as youth in correctional 
facilities and situations where youth are at high risk due to neglect 
or abuse.
  The bill has a vast national coalition of supporters including former 
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell, the Boys & Girls Clubs of 
America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the National Urban League, America's 
Promise, the Child Welfare Leagues of America, United Way, the National 
Mental Health Association, and others.
  I want to thank all of members of the coalition behind this bill for 
bringing us together. I applaud their work on this legislation and the 
work that they do every day in each of our local communities.
  I want to express special appreciation to all of the young people 
from these associations, who have rightly played such a key role in 
drafting and advocating for this legislation.
  Congress has enacted many worthwhile programs to help young people. 
But the bill we are introducing today has a different message. Our bill 
responds to the tremendous desire of young people to have the greatest 
opportunity possible to be active, creative, and productive citizens in 
our society, rather than receiving society's help only after they are 
in trouble. Kids are asking to be given a chance to make a difference 
in their own lives. We are saying today that that is exactly what 
Congress can and should do.
  I am confident we can make that happen. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to pass this legislation.

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