[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the ``Friends of the 
Children National Demonstration Act'' that would authorize $7.5 million 
for Friends of the Children to support local program operations at 
existing sites and to disseminate findings to policymakers and other 
youth-serving programs, Friends of the Children is the only program in 
the nation that provides carefully screened full-time professional 
mentors to at-risk children for 12 years starting at five years of age,
  This innovative program began in Portland, Oregon, starting in 1993 
with 3 ``Friends'', mentors serving 24 children. Today, Friends of the 
Children serves over 600 children in 11 communities across the nation. 
The young people who participate are truly the most defenseless--they 
are children of poverty; they have been in foster care, on welfare, and 
have parents who are incarcerated or are homeless.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill and 
make a commitment to improving the lives of at-risk children.

                          ____________________