[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7588-H7590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REVISING AND EXTENDING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the Senate bill (S. 2363) to revise and extend the Boys and Girls Clubs 
of America.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2363

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA.

       Section 401 of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (42 
     U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``1,200'' and inserting ``1,500'';
       (B) by striking ``4,000'' and inserting ``5,000''; and
       (C) by striking ``December 31, 2005'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2010'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 
     and 2006'' and inserting ``2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 
     2010''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1,200'' and 
     inserting ``1,500''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) by striking ``4,000'' and inserting ``5,000''; and
       (II) by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2010''; and

       (3) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (1) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this section--
       ``(A) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       ``(B) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       ``(C) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       ``(D) $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
       ``(E) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Schiff) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2363 currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to 
vote for S. 2363, a bill to revise and extend the authorization of 
appropriations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Both the Senate 
Committee on the Judiciary and the full Senate passed this bill without 
amendment by unanimous consent. Following Senate action, the bill was 
referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary where the bill was 
reported favorably by voice vote without amendment.
  The Boys and Girls Clubs of America had its first beginnings almost 
150 years ago. The first club was organized in 1860 by a group of women 
who believed disadvantaged boys should have access to a positive, 
structured environment outside of school. By 1906, several boys clubs 
had joined together and formed the Federated Boys Club in Boston. In 
1956, the Boys Clubs of America received a congressional charter and 
celebrated its 50th anniversary.
  Recognizing that girls are also a vital part of the Clubs' 
membership, the name was changed to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America 
in 1990.
  The Boys and Girls Clubs of America continue to provide a positive 
learning environment for children throughout this country. The Clubs 
have numerous nationally recognized programs that address issues 
pertinent to today's youth. More than 25 programs are available to 
youngsters on topics including education, leadership development, the 
arts and substance-abuse prevention. Of the several million children 
that benefit from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, a large majority 
live in our inner cities and urban areas. These programs are essential 
to providing resources and nourishing skills necessary for young people 
to become successful, productive adults.
  The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 established a program to provide 
Department of Justice grant support for starting new Boys and Girls 
Clubs in distressed areas. The current version of the law calls for the 
establishment of 1,200 new clubs by the end of 2005. S. 2363 will 
increase that number by 300 to a total of 1,500. Current law also calls 
for a goal of 4,000 total clubs by January 1, 2007. S. 2363 increases 
that goal to at least 5,000 such facilities in operation by January 1, 
2010.
  Additionally, the bill extends through fiscal year 2010 the authority 
of the director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department 
of Justice to make grants to the organization to establish such 
facilities. It authorizes appropriations of $80 million for fiscal year 
2006 and increasing each year by increments of $5 million, reaching 
$100 million in fiscal year 2010.
  In an effort to further the positive mission of the Boys and Girls 
Clubs of America, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of S. 2363, legislation extending the authorization 
for annual grants from the Department of Justice to the Boys and Girls 
Club of America. This legislation authorizes the Boys and Girls Club of 
America to receive funds through 2010 at $80 million for fiscal year 
2006, $85 million for 2007, $90 million for 2008, $95 million for 2009, 
culminating in $100 million for fiscal year 2010. It also authorizes an 
increase in the number of clubs in existence to 5,000 by 2010 which 
will increase the number of children served to over 5 million.
  Founded in 1860, the Boys and Girls Club of America has been in 
existence for over 100 years and provides young people with a positive 
alternative to drugs, gangs and crime. At clubs across America and 
throughout the world at our military bases, youth ages 6 to 18 find a 
positive adult influence and a safe environment in which to learn and 
grow. There are currently 3,500 clubs that serve 3.6 million children.
  It is with firsthand knowledge that many of us can attest to the 
success and opportunity provided to the youth that participate in the 
Boys and Girls Club programs. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Burbank, 
Pasadena and West San Gabriel Valley serve children in my district, and 
I have had the opportunity to visit and see firsthand the great work of 
this organization. In fact, many of the young people at this fine Boys 
and Girls Club organization in my district provided cards and letters 
and posters which I recently had the chance to deliver, along with my 
colleague from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), to our troops serving in Iraq, 
Afghanistan and elsewhere.
  I have seen in the computer training in the Burbank facility, the 
recreational activities, the arts and crafts, what a tremendous 
environment the Boys and Girls Club can provide for young people. The 
Boys and Girls Club dinner in Burbank every year is one of the best 
attended in the city. The last time I visited the Boys and Girls Club 
in Burbank, I got a very superb lesson in foosball from some very 
talented 
6-, 7- and 8-year-olds.
  S. 2363 is necessary to continue the much-needed mission of the Club, 
and we know all too well the consequences of not providing such 
preparation. While it costs taxpayers $25,000 to $75,000 per year to 
keep one young person in jail, it costs just $200 per year to provide 
Boys and Girls Club programming for one youth.
  I want to compliment my chairman and my colleagues for their 
sponsorship of this legislation and urge my colleagues to support this 
worthwhile endeavor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I am not here to argue about the value of the Boys and Girls 
Clubs. In fact, they do very good work in my home State of Arizona, a 
lot of good work.

[[Page H7589]]

  What I am here to raise a concern about is the increased level of 
authorization in this bill. Over the life of this authorization, 2006 
to 2010, we will be authorizing $450 million for the Boys and Girls 
Clubs. Unless a vote is called here today, this will go through without 
any vote in the Senate or the House as to this increased authorization. 
In an era where we are facing increased deficits and a huge debt, I 
think we owe it to our constituents and others to vote on measures like 
this that spend so much money.
  In the year 2010, there will be nearly $100 million authorized for 
this purpose. That is a fivefold increase over the original amount 
authorized in the 104th Congress. That is significant. If we were not 
increasing the authorization, I do not think we would have many people 
wanting to call a roll call vote on this or even raising a red flag, 
but we are here. I would urge defeat of this measure until we can come 
in with the same level of authorization and not an increase.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I appreciate the comments from the gentleman from Arizona. But, of 
course, there is an opportunity cost for not investing in our youth as 
well. If it costs $200 to keep a youth productively engaged in a Boys 
and Girls Club, but it costs 100 times that to incarcerate a youth, I 
think the decision becomes very simple: $100 million invested in the 
Boys and Girls Club to keep countless tens of thousands of children 
gainfully occupied after school, on weekends, versus potentially 
billions of dollars in corrections costs.
  I have seen in my own State of California the benefit that we have 
derived from a proactive juvenile justice policy. Working with one of 
my colleagues in the State legislature, Tony Cardenas, I introduced 
legislation some years ago to invest as much in preventive programs as 
in suppression of crime, and we have found that proactive preventive 
work has paid enormous dividends, has saved us on the back end 
countless costs of incarceration and countless victims of crime.
  This is an incredibly worthwhile investment. It is an investment in 
our most cherished resource, that of our young people.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, to begin, let me associate myself with the remarks of 
the gentleman from California. He is dead right in saying that an 
investment in groups like these will pay off in saving a big bundle of 
money, of the costs of dealing with kids who get in trouble. These 
types of prevention programs and effectively giving an outlet for young 
people to associate with one another during afterschool and weekend 
activities is something that should be encouraged because it is cost-
effective.
  But I would like to add one other point in response to the comments 
of my good friend from Arizona. If this bill is voted down today, the 
money will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs anyhow because the 
appropriators will continue to fund those requests through the State-
Justice-Commerce appropriation bill. Voting down this bill is not going 
to stop the appropriators from appropriating money to the Boys and 
Girls Clubs. The way that it gets stopped is the defeat of the relevant 
appropriation bill.
  But if the authorization for the Boys and Girls Clubs is permitted to 
expire, then the authorizing committees, the Judiciary Committee in 
this House and the other body, will lose a valuable tool to do 
oversight over the Boys and Girls Clubs to make sure that this money is 
being effectively spent. Unauthorized programs are basically oversight-
free programs. The consequence of the gentleman from Arizona, while 
well-intentioned, succeeding in bringing this bill down is going to 
mean less congressional oversight over how this money is being spent. 
That is a step backwards, and that is why this bill ought to pass.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2363, to 
revise and extend the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Congress first 
granted the Boys and Girls Clubs a charter back in 1991, but these 
clubs have been helping their communities for nearly one hundred years.
  There are currently 3,500 Boys and Girls Clubs across America, 
serving over 3.6 million children, ages 6-18.
  Over 70 percent of those children who benefit from the Boys and Girls 
Clubs of America live in America's inner cities. Almost half of the 
club members come from single parent homes.
  The clubs offer young people a safe place to learn and grow in the 
clubs.
  This bill authorizes the clubs to receive funds through 2010 and 
increases the number of clubs in existence. By 2010, there will be 
5,000 clubs nationwide serving over 5 million young people.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important reauthorization.
  I would also like to recognize Thomas (T.J.) Rancour of Bay County, 
Michigan, who last week won the Boys and Girls Club National Youth of 
the Year Award.
  T.J. won the national title after delivering an excellent speech 
about how the Boys and Girls Club has changed his life.
  T.J. overcame many personal obstacles in life because of his 
determination and perseverance. T.J. has a bright future ahead of him 
because he has a good heart and a good head.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2363, 
the Boys and Girls Clubs Reauthorization. I am pleased to support a 
measure that would not only ensure the continued existence of this 
already successful organization, but that would increase its authorized 
funding to $100 million over the next 6 years and allow for the 
establishment of an additional 1,500 facilities. I thank my colleagues, 
Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers, for their much-
needed leadership and attention to this issue affecting children 
throughout our country.
  My connection to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rhode Island begins on a 
personal level. My mother and father worked hard to create a positive 
and nurturing home environment for their four children and extend that 
warmth, generosity, and caring as foster parents to over 20 other 
children. Yet at the same time, my mother recognized that there were 
countless children in Rhode Island for whom the home was not a positive 
place, and she became a founding member of the Boys and Girls Clubs in 
my hometown of Warwick.
  Today, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick represent one of the few 
safe havens managed by caring adults where school-aged children can 
avoid the dangers of the street and the pitfalls of an unsupervised 
home. In Warwick, and throughout America, the Boys and Girls Clubs 
provide invaluable programs on education, leadership, the arts, and 
alcohol and drug prevention.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their continued support of the Boys 
and Girls Clubs of America, and I urge quick passage of this bill.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2363, to 
revise and extend the authorization for the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
America.
  For almost a century, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America have 
provided underprivileged youth across our country with a safe 
environment in which they can grow and learn to become well-rounded, 
responsible, and productive citizens. These youth are surrounded by 
caring adults who encourage them to reach their fullest potential and 
provide them with a range of experiences to enhance their lives and 
build character. This organization is a very worthy and positive 
influence in the lives of many underprivileged young people.
  My district has greatly benefitted from the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
America. For the last 75 years, this organization has provided 
thousands of El Paso youths with programs dedicated to their 
educational and social well-being. El Paso is fortunate to have five 
locations throughout the community, all led by an exemplary 
professional staff. The authorization of additional Boys and Girls 
Clubs facilities throughout the country would be a positive step toward 
ensuring a bright and hopeful future for our youth. Organizations such 
as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America should always be able to count 
on our support, for they are instrumental in shaping our country's 
future.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
legislation sponsored by my colleague, Mr. Hatch of the Senate on April 
29, 2004.
  As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, it pleases me to see 
this bi-partisan legislation move through Congress with such success 
despite the President's request for a reduction of the program by $20 
million for fiscal year 2005 in his budget.
  Since 1998, Congress has worked to increase support for the Boys and 
Girls Clubs from $20 million to $80 million this year. As a direct 
result of this commitment, we now see 3,300 clubs in all 50 States that 
serve more than 3.6 million young men and women. The legislation that 
we consider now, S. 2363, calls for the establishment of 1,500 new 
clubs by the end of 2005 with a goal of 4,000 total

[[Page H7590]]

by January 1, 2007 versus the current law that calls for the 
establishment of 1,200 new clubs for a total of 5,000 by that time. 
Furthermore, this bill's extension through fiscal year 2010 of the 
Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance's authority to make grants 
to the clubs will allow this proposed growth to happen.
  The mission statement of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston 
is:

       to inspire and enable all young people, especially those 
     from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full 
     potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. To 
     [reach] children at an early age and [provide] positive 
     activities and encouragement, . . . [providing] a compelling 
     alternative to youth crime, gang membership, drugs, and other 
     negative influences that effect our youth today.

  The result of this important mission is to help the children of 
Houston to: Enjoy their interests; nurture their talents; dissolve 
their prejudices; express their personality; develop friendships; build 
self esteem; contribute to society; and achieve personal success.
  This great organization espouses the philosophy of author James A. 
Autry in his book entitled Servant Leader to build the foundation of 
true leadership by first learning to serve your peers. By learning to 
become a functional part of the group, these young men and women obtain 
the necessary tools to develop into effective leaders who really 
understood how best to guide the team to success.
  The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston began in 1951 as a project 
led by the Variety Club of Houston and the vision of R.E. ``Bob'' Smith 
and George Strake, Sr. This branch of the organization transformed from 
the Variety Club to what is known as the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
Greater Houston when the Rotary Club reorganized its corporate 
structure in 1989. I also served as a Board member of the Houston Boys 
and Girls Club in the past.
  Fortunately, the branch opened it eighth location in Fort Bend, 
Texas, named the Fort Bend unit in 2002, and within two months, the 
location grew to over 2,500 members.
  Specific programs offered by the Greater Houston Boys and Girls Clubs 
include: Character & Leadership--Education and Career Development; 
Health and Life Skills; the Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.
  Therefore, it is through the fortification of the mind and the body 
that this organization empowers our young men and women. By offering 
this service in addition to or in lieu of that provided by the parents, 
we ensure that our children are able to follow the leadership tract 
suggested by author James A. Autry in Servant Leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support S. 2363 and would encourage my 
colleagues to join me.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2363.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________