[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3988-S3989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
        Biden, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Nelson of 
        Florida, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, 
        Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 2704. A bill to revise and extend the National Police Athletic 
League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Specter, Feinstein, 
Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Schumer, Nelson of Florida, Menendez, Dodd, 
Kennedy, Lautenberg, Durbin, and Lieberman to introduce a bill to 
reauthorize the Police Athletic/Activities League, better known as PAL. 
These local youth crime prevention programs, run by police officers 
nationwide, provide after-school educational, athletic, and 
recreational opportunities for the communities they serve.
  The first PAL chapter was founded in the 1910s in New York. The 
growth since then has been tremendous, and there are now over 330 PAL 
chapters in 38 States, DC, the Virgin Islands, Canada, and Nigeria, 
serving approximately 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 18. 
In my own home State of Ohio, we are fortunate enough to have 28 of 
these outstanding organizations.
  Studies conducted in Eastlake, OH, and Portland, OR, have shown a 
substantial drop in the juvenile crime rate in those two cities upon 
the creation of a PAL chapter. These chapters make a point to serve 
those most in need. For example, 50 percent of the kids involved in the 
28 Ohio chapters come from families with a median income of less than 
$20,000.

[[Page S3989]]

  PAL chapters provide kids with a wide range of activities. One 
chapter in Ohio, for instance--the Chillicothe-Ross County Police 
Athletic League--has offered dances, films, rap contests, and programs 
in archery, art, basketball, bowling, boxing, computers, cooking, CPR, 
fishing, fitness, lacrosse, nutrition, paint ball, running, tumbling, 
volleyball, and weightlifting. Other chapters around the country have 
offered programs like chess, flag football, junior golf, homework clubs 
and hydroponic gardening. In addition--through their Youth Leadership 
Council--PALs provide a setting for kids to learn important skills to 
assist them in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
  But, the Police Athletic/Activities League does more than merely 
provide after-school activities to kids who may not otherwise have 
access to tutoring or athletic facilities. PAL provides them with 
mentors and positive role models. In addition, PAL programs help teach 
kids that their relationship with law enforcement need not be one that 
is ``us vs. them;'' instead, to quote National PAL, itself, the 
relationship can be one of ``cops and kids together--providing 
solutions through sports and education.''
  The money provided by this reauthorization bill would enable PAL 
programs to continue their current programs and also expand--at a rate 
of 50 chapters per year--into areas where kids can truly benefit from 
the good work of the PAL.
  The PAL has been a success for over 90 years, and the Senate 
consistently has supported this outstanding organization. We passed the 
National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 by 
unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to continue to support the 
PAL with this reauthorization.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2704

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Police Athletic 
     League Youth Enrichment Reauthorization Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Section 2 of the National Police Athletic League Youth 
     Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (G) as 
     subparagraphs (D) through (H), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
       ``(C) develop life enhancing character and leadership 
     skills in young people;'';
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``55-year'' and inserting 
     ``90-year'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``320 PAL chapters'' and inserting ``350 
     PAL chapters''; and
       (B) by striking ``1,500,000 youth'' and inserting 
     ``2,000,000 youth'';
       (4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``82 percent'' and 
     inserting ``85 percent'';
       (5) in paragraph (5), in the second sentence, by striking 
     ``receive no'' and inserting ``rarely receive'';
       (6) in paragraph (6), by striking ``17 are at risk'' and 
     inserting ``18 are at risk''; and
       (7) in paragraph (7), by striking ``1999'' and inserting 
     ``2005''.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

       Section 3 of the National Police Athletic League Youth 
     Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``320 established PAL chapters'' and 
     inserting ``342 established PAL chapters''; and
       (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2006.'' and inserting 
     ``2010; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) support of an annual gathering of PAL chapters and 
     designated youth leaders from such chapters to participate in 
     a 3-day conference that addresses national and local issues 
     impacting the youth of America and includes educational 
     sessions to advance character and leadership skills.''.

     SEC. 4. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

       Section 5 of the National Police Athletic League Youth 
     Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2001 through 2005'' 
     and inserting ``2006 through 2010''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ``not less than 
     570 PAL chapters in operation before January 1, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``not fewer than 500 PAL chapters in operation 
     before January 1, 2010''.

     SEC. 5. USE OF FUNDS.

       Section 6(a)(2) of the National Police Athletic League 
     Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``four'' and inserting ``two''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``two 
     programs'' and inserting ``one program'';
       (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``or'';
       (C) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' and inserting 
     ``or''; and
       (D) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
       ``(v) character development and leadership training; and''.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 8(a) of the National Police Athletic League Youth 
     Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended by 
     striking ``2001 through 2005'' and inserting ``2006 through 
     2010''.

     SEC. 7. NAME OF LEAGUE.

       (a) Definitions.--Section 4(4) of the National Police 
     Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 
     note) is amended in the paragraph heading, by striking 
     ``Athletic'' and inserting ``Athletic/activities''.
       (b) Text.--The National Police Athletic League Youth 
     Enrichment Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 13751 note) is amended by 
     striking ``Police Athletic League'' each place such term 
     appears and inserting ``Police Athletic/Activities League''.
                                 ______