[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF ``LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!''

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
Resolution 66, supporting the goals and ideals of `Lights On 
Afterschool!', a national celebration of after-school programs. Passage 
of this bill will not only recognize this celebration, but also 
reaffirm the United States Congress' continuing commitment to providing 
our children after-school programs.
  The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' celebration was started in October of 
2000 and was hosted in over 1,000 communities across the nation. The 
goal of the program at its inception was to call attention to the 
importance of after-school programs for America's communities. Last 
year, 7,500 communities celebrated Lights On Afterschool! events. This 
October, the Afterschool Alliance, the founding organization, expects 1 
million Americans to participate in ``Lights On Afterschool!''
  In this time of political pressure for budget cuts, ``Lights On 
Afterschool!'' seeks to celebrate the importance of after-school 
programs to American Society, and assert the need for even more 
programs. The worth of after-school programming is not lost on the 
American public. Nine in ten Americans think children need organized 
activities or a program to go to after school where they have learning 
opportunities. Nine in ten also support funding for after-school 
programs in low-income neighborhoods.
  The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program calls for expanding after-
school opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access 
to one. This is not only a good idea on paper, but a good idea in 
practice. Teens who participate in after-school programs are three 
times less likely to try drugs, and less likely to smoke or drink. 
Teens who do not attend after-school programs are three times more 
likely to skip class. Students who participate in after-school programs 
have better grades, are more likely to attend college, and reach higher 
levels of achievement. The benefit of these programs also extends to 
the tens of millions of parents of school aged children, who, with the 
help of these programs, were better able to balance family and work 
life.
  It seems like a simple decision to support the ``Lights On'' program, 
but budget-tightening is forcing many programs to cut back or even 
close. There is a tremendous unmet demand for after-school programs. 
Today, millions of children have no adult supervision after school. 
Mayors surveyed in 86 cities reported that only one-third of the 
children needing after school care were receiving it. Over two-thirds 
of principals whose children lack after-school programs claim a lack of 
funding as the reason for not having sufficient programming.
  The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program is scheduled next month on the 
20th of October. Supporting this program--and after-school programs in 
general--should be a high priority for this country and this congress.
  I support H.J. Res. 66 for the foregoing reasons, and I urge my 
colleagues to follow suit.

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