[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11685-S11686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mrs. Dole, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. 
        Bennett, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Murray, and Ms. Landrieu):
  S. 1630. A bill to facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 
telephone service for information and referral services, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

[[Page S11686]]

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I want to think you Len Roberts and the 
people of United Way for making this day possible. The tremendous board 
members, including Brian Gallagher and Dr. Johnnetta Cole. And Paul 
Thornell and Bridget Gavaghan, of the staff.
  I also want to thank Senator Dole for working with me on this 
project. Because of her long history with the Red Cross, she 
understands the important of 2-1-1, and I am so pleased to be working 
with her to champion the Calling for 2-1-1 Act. I know that she will be 
a tremendous help in getting this legislation passed into law.
  Representatives Richard Burr and Anna Eshoo are leading this effort 
in the House and I appreciate their efforts.
  I also want to thank you Major Dennis E. Fowler who was here this 
morning from Florida to share his perspective on the value of 2-1-1.
  And of course, I have to mention George Clooney who is on the board 
of United Way and came to a press conference this morning to help 
publicize this legislation. I am always happy to thank people who take 
time away from K Street to help Main Street.
  This is a piece of legislation whose time has come.
  As you all know, I represent a State that experienced a horrible 
tragedy on September 11. The silver lining in that tragedy was the 
tremendous outgrowth of volunteerism. We saw thousands of individuals--
people from all over the country--who came to New York just to lend a 
hand.
  But the biggest challenge the city experienced was coordinating those 
efforts. Making sure we knew exactly how many people were needed to 
heal the wounded, clean up debris at the site, donate blood, bring food 
and coffee to the firefighters and police officers who were working 
round the clock, and so much more.
  The needs were great and the people of America rose to the challenge. 
But our infrastructure struggled to keep up.
  As time wore on, the economic repercussions of the disaster became 
more and more apparent. More than 100,000 people lost their jobs. Close 
to 2,000 families applied for housing assistance because they couldn't 
pay their rent or mortgage. Ninety thousand people developed symptoms 
of posttraumatic stress disorder or clinical depression within 8 weeks 
of the attacks. Another 34,000 people met the criteria for both 
diagnoses.
  Again, our communities rose to the challenge. Philanthropic 
organizations like United Way, along with corporations, foundations, 
and community organizations raise more than $1 billion to help the 
victims.
  But our government did not have the infrastructure to handle the 
outpouring of support. In a study of the aftermath of September 11, the 
Brookings Institution and Urban Institute found that as the dislocated 
workers struggled to obtain assistance. people ``found it difficult to 
connect with resources due to a social-services infrastructure that 
does not support a simple and deficient method for people to learn 
about and access services and for agencies to coordinate their 
activities.''
  That's what 2-1-1 is all about. It provides a single, efficient, 
coordinated way for people who need help to connect with those who can 
provide it.
  The Federal Communications Commission land the groundwork for a 2-1-1 
number in 2000 when it directed the telephone number to be reserved for 
information and referral to social- and human-services agencies. The 2-
1-1 system opens the way to a user-friendly social-services network, by 
providing an easy-to-remember and universally available phone number 
that links individuals and families in need to the appropriate non-
profit and government agencies.
  Where 2-1-1 is now active, it has done just that. 2-1-1 is helping 
our youth to navigate through difficult situations like exiting a gang, 
assisting a suicidal friend, and rejecting illegal drugs.
  2-1-1 was already operating in Connecticut during September 11 and it 
was critical in helping identify the whereabouts of victims, connecting 
frightened children with their parents, providing information on 
terrorist suspects, and linking ready volunteers with coordinated 
efforts and victims with necessary mental and physical health services. 
2-1-1 provided locations of vigils and support groups, and information 
on bioterrorism.
  I want those services to be available to New Yorkers who continue to 
need services in the recovery process. Some have mental health 
problems. Other are still out of work. Others need legal and financial 
advice. Whatever the need, 2-1-1 can help.
  So I am thrilled to announce today that I am introducing the Calling 
for 2-1-1 Act. I hope that we soon reach a day when all Americans have 
the 4-1-1 on 2-1-1 so it can help them through life's toughest 
challenges. Thank you.
                                 ______