[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 25, and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 25) designating the week beginning 
     March 18, 2001, as ``National Safe Place Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 25) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 25

       Whereas today's youth are vital to the preservation of our 
     country and will be the future bearers of the bright torch of 
     democracy;
       Whereas youth need a safe haven from various negative 
     influences such as child abuse, substance abuse and crime, 
     and they need to have resources readily available to assist 
     them when faced with circumstances that compromise their 
     safety;
       Whereas the United States needs increased numbers of 
     community volunteers acting as positive influences on the 
     Nation's youth;
       Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting 
     our Nation's most valuable asset, our youth, by offering 
     short term ``safe places'' at neighborhood locations where 
     trained volunteers are available to counsel and advise youth 
     seeking assistance and guidance;
       Whereas Safe Place combines the efforts of the private 
     sector and non-profit organizations uniting to reach youth in 
     the early stages of crisis;
       Whereas Safe Place provides a direct means to assist 
     programs in meeting performance standards relative to 
     outreach/community relations, as set forth in the Federal 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act guidelines;
       Whereas the Safe Place placard displayed at businesses 
     within communities stands as a beacon of safety and refuge to 
     at-risk youth;
       Whereas over 500 communities in 32 States and more than 
     9,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas over 47,000 young people have gone to Safe Place 
     locations to get help when faced with crisis situations;
       Whereas through the efforts of Safe Place coordinators 
     across the country each year more than one-half million 
     students learn that Safe Place is a resource if abusive or 
     neglectful situations exist; and
       Whereas increased awareness of the program's existence will 
     encourage communities to establish Safe Places for the 
     Nation's youth throughout the country: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) proclaims the week of March 18 through March 24, 2001 
     as ``National Safe Place Week'' and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to promote awareness of and volunteer involvement in 
     the Safe Place programs, and to observe the week with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, children are our most valuable resource. 
Youth are the future of this Nation and a resource that needs to be 
both valued and protected. Sadly, however, as my colleagues know, this 
precious resource is being threatened every day.
  I come to the Senate floor today to talk about a tremendous 
initiative that has been reaching out to youth since 1983. Project Safe 
Place is a program that was developed to assist youth and families in 
crisis. It creates a network of private businesses who are trained to 
refer youth in need to the local service providers who can help them. 
Those businesses display a Safe Place sign so that young people know 
this is a place where they can go to receive help.
  The goal of National Safe Place Week is to recognize those 
individuals who work to make Project Safe Place a reality. From trained 
volunteers to seasoned professionals, thousands of dedicated 
individuals are working together within their local communities and 
across the nation to serve young people, under a well-known symbol of 
safety for in-crisis youth.
  Project Safe Place is a simple program to implement in any local 
community, and it works. Young people are much more likely to ask for 
help in a location that is familiar and nonthreatening to them. By 
creating a network of Safe Places across the nation, all youth would 
have access, through this nonthreatening resource, to needed help, 
counseling, or a safe place to stay. However, while the program has 
already been established in 32 States, there are still too many 
communities without this valuable youth resources.
  If your State does not already have a Safe Place organization, please 
consider facilitating this worthwhile resource. To create more Project 
Safe Place sites in Idaho, the staff in three of my state offices have 
gone through the training to make them all Safe Place sites, and now 
have the skills and ability to assist troubled youth.
  I am delighted that the U.S. Senate has passed Senate Resolution 25, 
designating the week of March 18-24, 2001 as National Safe Place Week. 
This action recognizes the importance of Project Safe Place and the 
work of the National Project Safe Place organization. Most important, 
in passing this resolution, the Senate is applauding the tireless 
efforts of the thousands of dedicated volunteers across the nation for 
their many contributions to the youth of our nation through Project 
Safe Place.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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