[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 21 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1423-S1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 215--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 17, 2002, 
                    AS ``NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK''

  Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Bayh, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Burns, 
Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
DeWine, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Frist, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Inhofe, 
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
McConnell, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Specter, and Mr. Voinovich) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

[[Page S1424]]

                              S. Res. 215

       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 641 communities in 39 states and more than 
     11,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas over 53,000 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;
       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 17 through March 23, 2002 
     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, events of the day may turn our attention 
overseas, but it is essential to remember those who are fighting an 
ongoing battle right here at home. This battle has been raging for 
generations and consists of fighting to protect this Nation's most 
valuable resource: our children. Youth are the future of the Nation; 
they need to be both valued and protected. Sadly, however, as my 
colleagues know, this precious resource is threatened daily.
  I come to the Senate floor today to talk about a tremendous 
initiative between the public and private sector that has been reaching 
out to youth for nearly twenty years. Project Safe Place is a program 
that was developed to assist our Nation's youth and families in crisis. 
This partnership creates a network of private businesses 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 can 
easily recognize a ``safe place'' for them to go to receive help.
  In his State of the Union Address President Bush called for every 
American to commit at least two years or 4,000 hours to the service of 
neighbors and our Nation. The goal of National Safe Place Week is to 
recognize the thousands of individuals who work to make Project Safe 
Place a reality. From trained volunteers to seasoned professionals, 
these dedicated individuals are working together with the resources in 
their local communities and through their ties across the Nation, to 
serve young people. Because of Project Safe Place, this all happens 
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 more likely to seek help in 
locations that are familiar and non-threatening to them. By creating a 
network of Safe Places across the nation, all youth would have access 
to needed help, counseling, or a safe place to stay. However, while the 
program has already been established in 39 States, there are still too 
many communities that don't know about this valuable youth resource.
  If your State does not already have a Safe Place organization, please 
consider facilitating this worthwhile resource so that young people who 
are abused, neglected, or whose futures are jeopardized by physical or 
emotional trauma will have access to immediate help and safety in your 
community. 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 Safe Place sites, and now have the skills and ability to assist 
troubled youth. In the next five years, Project Safe Place hopes that 
every child in America will have the opportunity to connect with 
someone who can provide immediate help by easily recognizing the Safe 
Place sign.
  I look forward to the U.S. Senate passing this resolution and 
designating the week of March 17-23, 2002 as National Safe Place Week. 
This action will recognize the importance of Project Safe Place and 
send a message that we will keep working to protect our children. As we 
saw following the tragic events of September 11, volunteers truly do 
make a difference every day, and in passing this resolution, the Senate 
will be 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.

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