[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK

  Mr. CRAIG. I look forward to the U.S. Senate passing this resolution 
and designating the week of March 14-20, 2004, as National Safe Place 
Week. I would like to thank my colleague Senator Feinstein for her work 
on this issue. I would also like to thank the other cosponsors of this 
resolution: Senator Campbell, Senator Boxer, Senator Fitzgerald, 
Senator Landrieu, Senator Inhofe, Senator Feingold, Senator Cochran, 
Senator Johnson, Senator Lieberman, Senator Mikulski, Senator Durbin, 
Senator Kohl, Senator Lincoln, Senator Shelby, and Senator Murkowski. 
This action will recognize the importance of Project Safe Place and 
send a message that we will keep working to protect our children. In 
countless hours of selfless work, 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.
  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. Young people are the future of this 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 over 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 people can easily 
recognize a ``safe place'' for them to go to receive help.
  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 will have access to 
needed help, counseling, or a safe place to stay. However, though the 
program has already been established in 42 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 several of my State offices have completed the training to make them 
Safe Place sites, and now have the skills and ability to assist 
troubled youth. In the coming 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.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of this resolution 
be printed at this point in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             (S. Res. 309)

       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 the Safe Place program combines the efforts of the 
     private sector and non-profit organizations uniting to reach 
     youth in the early stages of crisis;
       Whereas the Safe Place program provides a direct way to 
     assist programs in meeting performance standards relative to 
     outreach and 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 more than 700 communities in 42 states and more 
     than 14,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas more than 68,000 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 exists;
       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 14 through March 20, 2004 
     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.

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