[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8329-H8330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 809) supporting the goals and ideals of ``Lights On 
Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 809

       Whereas high-quality after-school programs provide safe, 
     challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences to help 
     children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, 
     cultural, and academic skills;
       Whereas high-quality after-school programs support working 
     families by ensuring that their children are safe and 
     productive after the regular school day ends;
       Whereas high-quality after-school programs build stronger 
     communities by involving the Nation's students, parents, 
     business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of the 
     Nation's young people, thereby promoting positive 
     relationships among children, youth, families, and adults;
       Whereas high-quality after-school programs engage families, 
     schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the 
     well-being of the Nation's children;
       Whereas ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration 
     of after-school programs on October 14, 2004, promotes the 
     critical importance of high-quality after-school programs in 
     the lives of children, their families, and their communities;
       Whereas more than 28,000,000 children in the United States 
     have parents who work outside the home, and 14,300,000 
     children have no place to go after school; and
       Whereas many after-school programs across the Nation are 
     struggling to keep their doors open and their lights on: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``Lights On 
     Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school 
     programs; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the communities of the Nation to engage in 
     innovative after-school programs and activities that ensure 
     the doors stay open and the lights stay on for all children 
     after school.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 809.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 809, offered by the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee). This resolution seeks to support the goals and 
ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-
school programs.
  On October 14, 2004, more than 6,000 communities across the country 
will rally for after-school programs by participating in the fifth 
anniversary of ``Lights On Afterschool!'' This nationwide event is 
aimed at bringing attention to the need for high-quality after-school 
programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve 
academic achievement.
  I support this resolution because after-school programs are an 
important part of many American students' lives. High-quality after-
school programs provide safe, challenging, and fun learning experiences 
that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, 
cultural, and academic skills. I am pleased that we are able to help 
bring attention to the critical importance of after-school programs in 
the lives of children, their families, and their communities.
  This resolution is simple and straightforward. It supports the goals 
and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a nationwide celebration of 
after-school programs and requests that the President issue a 
proclamation calling on the communities to engage in innovative after-
school programs and activities that ensure the doors stay open and the 
lights stay on for children after school.
  I commend the gentleman (Mr. Kildee) for his leadership in offering 
H. Res. 809 and urge my colleagues' support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 809. This resolution 
supports the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national 
celebration of after-school programs.
  All of us know the value of high-quality after-school programs. These 
programs help reduce crime in our communities and provide children a 
safe and nurturing environment when the school day ends. In addition, 
after-school programs play key roles in the social and educational 
development of our children. This helps improve their academic 
achievements and ensures that they become contributing, positive 
members of society.
  The importance of after-school programs, especially to parents who 
work, is undeniable. H. Res. 809 recognizes the efforts of ``Lights On 
Afterschool!''. Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, this is the 
fifth annual ``Lights On Afterschool!'' Day. This day will bring 
together educators, community leaders, lawmakers, parents, business and 
religious leaders, and youth for the Nation's largest annual rally for 
after-school programs on October 14. The event will call attention to 
after-school programs and the resources needed to keep their lights on 
and their doors open.
  ``Lights On Afterschool!'' was launched in October, 2000. That year 
more than 1,200 events were held across the country. But last year more 
than half a million people rallied at more than 5,000 events to show 
their support for after-school programs. The Afterschool Alliance 
expects this year's event to be even larger.
  This resolution is only a small part of our effort to thank and 
support those involved with after-school programs. The Afterschool 
Alliance and its executive director, Judy Samelson, deserve a great 
deal of credit for spearheading the drive to expand after-school 
programs and get the resources they need.
  I hope Members will join me in recognizing their efforts and the 
importance of after-school programs by supporting this program.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey).
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 809, a 
bipartisan resolution introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) to raise 
the awareness of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of 
after-school programs.
  Children need after-school programs for many reasons. Most of us 
think of these programs, first, as offering children critical 
opportunities to develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural, 
and academic skills. And good programs do. But after-school programs 
are especially indispensable to the majority of families in which 
parents are in the workforce. For these families, after-school programs 
mean that they will not have to worry nearly as much about where their 
children are and what their children are doing between the school bell 
and the dinner bell. That is the time when most teenagers, by the way, 
are involved in crime or when pregnancy occurs because there is nothing 
for these children to do after school.

[[Page H8330]]

  After-school programs build strong communities by involving a wide 
range of parents and teachers and business leaders, community 
organization volunteers in the lives of young people.
  Mr. Speaker, of the more than 28 million children in the United 
States whose parents work outside the home, more than half have no 
place to go after school. That is why the ``Lights On Afterschool!'' 
effort is so important and deserves our commemoration. That is also why 
it is critical for Congress and the President to address the fact that, 
as noted in this resolution, many after-school programs across the 
Nation are being forced to shut down for lack of funding.
  So I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting not only this 
resolution, but also in efforts to increase Federal funding for after-
school programs so that our children receive the services that they 
need, the services that they deserve.
  Finally, I would note that after-school programs are an essential, 
but not the only component to help working parents address the many 
challenges in providing for their families in the 21st century economy. 
That is why I have introduced H.R. 3780, the Balancing Act, as a 
comprehensive response to these challenges, and I encourage all of my 
colleagues to join me when I reintroduce the Balancing Act next 
Congress because the Balancing Act includes after-school programs.
  I also encourage my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 809.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 809, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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