[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 142 (Friday, October 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2026-E2027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 10, 2003

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an issue of great 
importance to our children--afterschool programs. The parents of more 
than 28 million school-age children work outside the home, and the 
Urban Institute estimates that at least seven million and as many as 15 
million ``latchkey children'' go to an empty house on any given 
afternoon. It is during these after-school hours that children are more 
likely to be involved in crime, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy. 
As a result, it is essential that we provide children with organized 
activities or programs to go to after-school.
  To highlight the ongoing need for after-school programs, the 
Afterschool Alliance--a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring 
that all children have access to after-school programs by 2010--has 
organized the fourth annual nationwide day of awareness for after-
school programs called Lights on Afterschool! This event is the only 
national event celebrating after-school programs and the important role 
they play in the lives of children, families and communities. Sponsored 
by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, with additional support provided by 
the C.S. Mott Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the 
Open Society Institute, Lights on Afterschool! was launched in October 
2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide. This 
year's event will be its largest yet with over 5,000 communities 
organizing more than 6,000 events. These activities will take place at 
schools, 4-H clubs, YMCAs, churches, parking lots, on fair grounds, at 
shopping malls and State capitals.

[[Page E2027]]

  In my own district, events will take place at the Eastchester After 
School Program, the Eastchester After School Youth Program (E.A.S.Y.), 
and the Yonkers School Age Child Care Alliance. I applaud these sites 
for opening their doors to parents, neighbors, business leaders, and 
elected officials to showcase their programs. I also hope these visits 
will help build support for after school programs.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, not all working families and their 
children have access to after school programs and additional sites are 
desperately needed. In polling done by the Afterschool Alliance, nearly 
two-thirds of respondents reported difficulty in finding quality, 
affordable programs. In addition, a 31-State study of after-school 
funding found that 75 percent of 2002 requests for Federal after-school 
support went unfunded because there was not enough money to go around.
  We must do more for families in need. After-school programs are 
invaluable to local communities--keeping our children safe and involved 
in positive, enriching activities, helping working families, and 
improving academic achievement. With the power of united voices, and 
the continued support of organizations like the JCPenney Afterschool 
Fund, the Afterschool Alliance, 4-H Afterschool, the 21st Century 
Community Learning Centers, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Inner-
City Games Foundation, Junior Achievement and the YMCA of the USA, we 
can certainly reach our goal of after-school for all.

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