[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 78 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING UPPER BUCKS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES HEALTHY YOUTH COALITION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2007

  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
commend the efforts of the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy 
Youth Coalition.
  We are all aware of the dangerous rise in teen substance abuse. It is 
therefore reassuring to see area youth stepping up to help each other 
avoid the mistakes too many have made.
  The members of the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth 
Coalition have taken it upon themselves work against teen substance and 
alcohol abuse.
  The success of their marketing campaigns speaks for itself. Madam 
Speaker, they can claim credit for 15 percent reduction in tobacco use 
among high school seniors, a 5 percent decrease in alcohol use among 
high school sophomores and a 44 percent decline in tobacco use among 
eighth-graders. These numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of the 
teen-to-teen strategy that they have implemented to protect their 
peers--our children.
  The students in the Coalition began the school year passing out 
thousands of small buttons with the letters OMG--a common teenage 
online abbreviation. Next, they distributed hundreds of t-shirts and 
decals saying ``2outta3.'' Finally, they handed out more than 1,100 t-
shirts and 5,000 wrist bands reading ``2outta3 don't drink,'' 
completing the message that two-out-of-three Upper Bucks teenagers 
don't drink.
  The Coalition members have also enlisted local sports coaches to 
train them to focus on the incorporation of youth development 
strategies into coaching.
  Local businesses are also joining the fight. The area Burger King 
franchise and other local stores have raised millions of dollars in 
support of Project CARE, which trains adults working with young people 
and awards higher-education scholarships to students formerly with 
alcohol, drug, or mental health problems.
  I am not the first to recognize their great work. The White House 
National Drug Control Strategy cited the Coalition as an example for 
groups across the United States to follow.
  Madam Speaker, these students have demonstrated great initiative in 
working to help their peers. On behalf of the entire 8th District of 
Pennsylvania, I would like to congratulate them for their efforts and 
their success, and urge others to use these remarkable young people as 
an example for true community service.

                          ____________________