[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE BAY AREA ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2007

  Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the 
outstanding efforts of a drug prevention coalition in the 22nd 
Congressional District of Texas. The Bay Area Alliance for Youth & 
Families was formed in 2003 with the mission of uniting the community's 
resources in order to empower youth and their families in the fight 
against drugs and underage drinking. The coalition is committed to 
helping youth reach their fullest potential and equipping them with the 
skill and knowledge to become competent and caring citizens. The 
Alliance focuses its efforts on organizing the local community to 
address underage drinking and drug use by increasing awareness of 
substance abuse and the resources that are available to address it, 
decreasing access to alcohol in the home, school, and community 
environments, and changing community norms by encouraging and 
supporting youth who have made an active commitment to be drug-free.
  The Bay Area Alliance for Youth & Families currently has 130 adult 
members from across the community including law enforcement officials, 
healthcare professionals, substance abuse counselors, teachers, and 
parents, as well as members who work for community service agencies, 
faith-based agencies, government and local businesses. There are over 
1,000 youth who are part of the Alliance by being CLEAR, Clean Living 
Encouragement and Responsibility, members. CLEAR members have made a 
commitment to be drug-free and alcohol-free, and participate in 
voluntary drug-testing to demonstrate their commitment to be the 
program. They help raise awareness in their community and act as role 
models for other youth by living a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.
  The Bay Area Alliance for Youth & Families has partnered with many 
esteemed organizations. In 2006, it partnered with the U.S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration to create a very successful regional seminar 
on Methamphetamine abuse. Additionally, the Alliance has developed 
relationships with local colleges and universities to assess the drug 
and alcohol issues on their campuses and has assisted in forming a team 
to begin to address their issues through environmental strategies. 
Unfortunately Harris County, where the Alliance is based, leads the 
Nation in the greatest number and percentage of alcohol-related traffic 
fatalities. The coalition has taken steps to begin to reduce alcohol-
related traffic fatalities by assuming an active role in creating the 
Harris County High Risk Drinking Epidemiology Work Group. The coalition 
also regularly holds town hall meetings where topics such as underage 
drinking, drug testing in schools, and internet safety are addressed.
  These are just a few of the ways the Bay Area Alliance for Youth & 
Families is helping to combat drug and alcohol issues in their 
community. I respectfully request that the U.S. House of 
Representatives join me in congratulating the Bay Area Alliance for 
Youth & Families for its hard work and dedication to keeping our 
children drug and alcohol free.

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