[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE GIRL SCOUT RESEARCH INSTITUTE'S PUBLICATION OF 
                    ``FEELING SAFE: WHAT GIRLS SAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue 
that is of concern to every member of this body and every citizen of 
our Nation. That issue is the safety of our children.
  Recently, the Washington Post featured an article describing the 
findings of a national survey conducted by researchers from Duke 
University and the nonprofit Foundation for Child Development. The 
title of the article tells the story of their results; ``Baby Steps 
Made in the Well-Being of Children.'' The good news it shares is that 
children and teens are safer today than they have been in the past 30 
years--less likely to commit or be victims of crime, to become young 
parents, and less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs.
  This is good news indeed, but as we all know, there is a difference 
between being safe and feeling safe. We can understand this distinction 
because we all experience some anxiety when the threat level moves from 
yellow to orange or when we become aware of terrorist acts. As adults, 
we work to manage our reactions to these incidents. Likewise, our 
children struggle daily with feelings of safety that impact their 
quality of life.
  The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is an esteemed 
organization, founded in the State of Georgia in 1912 and chartered by 
the U.S. Congress in 1950. Throughout its history, the Girl Scouts have 
worked to improve the lives of young women through traditional scouting 
and other educational programs. Now the Girl Scout Research Institute 
has produced a report titled ``Feeling Safe: What Girls Say'' based on 
original research. Through this publication, young women speak to us 
about what factors in their homes, schools and communities cause them 
to feel safe or unsafe and talk about their strategies for coping with 
such feelings.
  For example, the report reveals that while physical safety is a key 
concern for urban and suburban girls, girls who live in rural 
communities are concerned about emotional safety, specifically about 
being teased. This finding supports the incorporation of anti-bullying 
and conflict resolution programs into our public schools. Feeling Safe 
also emphasizes that families and supportive friends can help girls 
strategize about ways to increase their feelings of safety and by so 
doing, become more empowered. This finding supports what we have 
already learned about the important role volunteer mentors can play in 
a young person's life.
  I would like to commend the Girl Scouts of America for this research 
and the production of a user-friendly report that can be a guide for 
local, State and Federal policy makers. I recommend it to each of my 
colleagues and hereby pledge my continued support for this exemplary 
organization that has made all the difference in the lives of so many 
girls.

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