[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E550-E551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTRODUCTION OF THE CAN DO BILL

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2009

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Communities in 
Action Neighborhood and Opportunity bill, also known as the CAN DO 
bill. The Department of Justice reports that, on average, 45 people are 
shot and killed daily in America. Annually, there are 16,000-17,000 gun 
deaths in America.
  The Communities in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity Act is 
a comprehensive, community-based approach designed to address the issue 
gun violence. The bill calls for a four-pronged strategy in addressing 
gun violence in our nation's most crime-infested neighborhoods, 
including aggressive law enforcement, increased access to mental health 
and psychological counseling, additional employment training and job 
placement, and increased educational and recreational services for at-
risk youth.
  Madam Speaker, the issue of gun violence affects all Americans, 
white, black, Latino, Native American, and Asian. And gun violence 
pervades in all of our communities: urban, suburban, and rural. This 
issue is not a black or white issue, and it is not an urban or rural 
issue. This is an American issue that we must address with all of the 
resources we have at our disposal.
  The research confirms that in order to effectively combat the causes 
of youth gun violence, there must be a holistic approach that provides 
not only aggressive law enforcement, but also provides at-risk youth 
with constructive alternatives to their dangerous lifestyles and gives 
them access to critical social services and programs.
  This bill is unique in that it brings together the entire community 
to provide alternatives to youth by establishing partnerships between 
public and private agencies, businesses, community-based nonprofits, 
churches, schools, and universities. There is an 'all hands on' 
approach in order to get all of the stakeholders involved and provide a 
comprehensive and effective strategy that families and communities can 
support and get behind.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the CAN DO bill 
and help end the destruction that is tearing apart so many of our 
communities. Americans of conscious must come together to stop the 
senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is 
enough, stop the killing!''

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