[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S921-S922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                            By Mr. CAMPBELL:

  S. 231. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 to ensure that seniors are given an opportunity to serve as 
mentors, tutors, and volunteers for certain programs; to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, the future of our nation rests on the 
small shoulders of America's school children. To help them face that 
challenge, we must call on all of our resources and find new and 
innovative ways to support our schools, right now.
  That is why today, I am introducing the ``Seniors As Volunteers in 
Our Schools Act,'' a bill that will be an important step in ensuring 
that our

[[Page S922]]

schools provide a safe and caring place for our children to learn and 
grow. This bill is based on legislation which I introduced in the 106th 
Congress, S. 1851. I am pleased to have my colleagues Senators 
Grassley, Akaka and Inouye as original co-sponsors.
  Over the past week, under the leadership of President Bush, our 
nation and this body have committed to improving the nature of our 
schools. This bill presents one common-sense approach to enhancing the 
safety in our schools by utilizing one of our greatest resources--our 
senior citizens.
  The bill I introduce today would encourage school administrators and 
teachers to use qualified seniors as volunteers in federally funded 
programs and activities authorized by the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act, ESEA. The legislation specifically would encourage the 
use of seniors as volunteers in the safe and drug free schools 
programs, Indian education programs, the 21st Century Community before- 
and after-school programs and gifted and talented programs.
  The Seniors as Volunteers in Our Schools Act creates no new programs; 
rather it suggests another allowable use of funds already allocated. 
The discretion whether to take advantage of this new resource continues 
to remain solely with the school systems.
  In my home state of Colorado, a School Safety Summit recommended 
connecting each child to a caring adult as a way to reduce youth 
violence. Studies show that consistent guidance by a mentor or caring 
adult can help reduce teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and youth 
violence. Evidence also shows that the presence of adults on 
playgrounds, and in hallways and study halls, stabilizes the learning 
environment.
  I know firsthand the importance of mentoring based on my own 
experiences as a teacher. A mentor can have a profound and positive 
impact on a child's life. What better way to make our schools safer for 
our children than to have more caring adults visibly involved?
  I am pleased to note that the Colorado Association of School Boards 
supports the goal of this legislation. Jane Urschel, the Association's 
Associate Executive Director states, ``As many Colorado school 
districts have already discovered, having senior citizens in our 
classrooms helps to build inter-generational relationships and trust. 
It leads to a richer life for all.''
  I am pleased that a number of seniors in Colorado already are helping 
in schools throughout my state. Many of my former and current staffers 
and their relatives care deeply about this issue and are very involved 
in volunteer and mentoring activities.
  I do not expect this legislation to solve all the problems 
confronting our schools today. But, I see it as a practical way to help 
make our schools safer, more caring places for our children.
  Mr. President, the Seniors as Volunteers in Our Schools Act of 2001 
is one simple way to address the school safety issue in Colorado and 
nationwide. I believe that as we work to find the resources our schools 
require we must not overlook one of the more plentiful and accessible 
resources at our disposal--willing and capable adult role models. This 
bill provides an opportunity to immediately improve the lives of 
younger and older Americans alike by bringing them together in our 
schools. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 231

       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 ``Seniors as Volunteers in Our 
     Schools Act''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, 
     the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. GOVERNOR'S PROGRAMS.

       Section 4114(c) (20 U.S.C. 7114(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) drug and violence prevention activities that use the 
     services of appropriately qualified seniors for activities 
     that include mentoring, tutoring, and volunteering.''.

     SEC. 4. LOCAL DRUG AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

       Section 4116(b) (20 U.S.C. 7116(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), by inserting ``(including mentoring by appropriately 
     qualified seniors)'' after ``mentoring'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(C)--
       (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in clause (iii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) drug and violence prevention activities that use the 
     services of appropriately qualified seniors for such 
     activities as mentoring, tutoring, and volunteering;'';
       (3) in paragraph (4)(C), by inserting ``(including 
     mentoring by appropriately qualified seniors)'' after 
     ``mentoring programs''; and
       (4) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``and which may involve 
     appropriately qualified seniors working with students'' after 
     ``settings''.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL PROGRAMS.

       Section 4121(a) (20 U.S.C. 7131(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``, including projects 
     and activities that promote the interaction of youth and 
     appropriately qualified seniors'' after ``responsibility''; 
     and
       (2) in paragraph (13), by inserting ``, including 
     activities that integrate appropriately qualified seniors in 
     activities, such as mentoring, tutoring, and volunteering'' 
     after ``title''.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZED SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES.

       Section 9115(b) (20 U.S.C. 7815(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) activities that recognize and support the unique 
     cultural and educational needs of Indian children, and 
     incorporate appropriately qualified tribal elders and 
     seniors.''.

     SEC. 7. IMPROVEMENTS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIAN 
                   CHILDREN.

       Section 9121(c)(1) (20 U.S.C. 7831(c)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (J), by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (K) as subparagraph (L); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
       ``(K) activities that recognize and support the unique 
     cultural and educational needs of Indian children, and 
     incorporate appropriately qualified tribal elders and 
     seniors; or''.

     SEC. 8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

       Section 9122(d)(1) (20 U.S.C. 7832(d)(1)) is amended in the 
     second sentence by striking the period and inserting ``, and 
     may include programs designed to train tribal elders and 
     seniors.''.

     SEC. 9. NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION LEARNING 
                   CENTERS.

       Section 9210(b) (20 U.S.C. 7910(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) programs that recognize and support the unique 
     cultural and educational needs of Native Hawaiian children, 
     and incorporate appropriately qualified Native Hawaiian 
     elders and seniors.''.

     SEC. 10. ALASKA NATIVE STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.

       Section 9306(b) (20 U.S.C. 7936(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) activities that recognize and support the unique 
     cultural and educational needs of Alaskan Native children, 
     and incorporate appropriately qualified Alaskan Native elders 
     and seniors.''.

     SEC. 11. GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN.

       Section 10204(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 8034(b)(3)) is amended by 
     striking ``and parents'' and inserting ``, parents, and 
     appropriately qualified senior volunteers''.

     SEC. 12. 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS.

       Section 10904(a)(3) (20 U.S.C. 8244(a)(3)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) a description of how the school or consortium will 
     encourage and use appropriately qualified seniors as 
     volunteers in activities identified under section 10905.''.
                                 ______