[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee 
be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed 
to consider S. Res. 71.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 71) designating the week beginning 
     March 13, 2005 as National Safe Place Week.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. I will not object, but I ask unanimous consent to be 
added as a cosponsor to this resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Craig amendment be 
agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the preamble be 
agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 139) was agreed to as follows:

(Purpose: to strike the request for a Presidential proclamation in the 
                  National Safe Place Week resolution)

       In Section (2), strike ``requests that the President issue 
     a proclamation calling'' and replace with ``calls''.

  The resolution (S. Res. 71), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 71

       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 41 states and more 
     than 14,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas more than 75,000 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 exist; and
       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 13 through March 19, 2005 
     as ``National Safe Place Week'' and
       (2) calls 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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