[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 80--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 15, 2009, AS 
                      ``NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK''

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Martinez) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 80

       Whereas the young people of the United States will bear the 
     bright torch of democracy in the future;
       Whereas young people need a safe haven from negative 
     influences, such as child abuse, substance abuse, and crime;
       Whereas young people need resources that are readily 
     available to assist them when they are faced with 
     circumstances that compromise their safety;
       Whereas the United States needs more community volunteers 
     to act as positive influences on the young people of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting 
     the young people of the United States, the most valuable 
     asset of the Nation, by offering short term safe places at 
     neighborhood locations where trained volunteers are available 
     to counsel and advise young people seeking assistance and 
     guidance;
       Whereas the Safe Place program combines the efforts of the 
     private sector and nonprofit organizations to reach young 
     people in the early stages of crisis;
       Whereas the Safe Place program provides a direct way to 
     assist programs in meeting performance standards relating to 
     outreach and community relations, as set forth in the Runaway 
     and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.);
       Whereas the Safe Place placard displayed at businesses 
     within communities stands as a beacon of safety and refuge to 
     at-risk young people;
       Whereas more than 1,400 communities in 37 States make the 
     Safe Place program available at nearly 16,000 locations;
       Whereas more than 200,000 young people have gone to Safe 
     Place locations to get help when faced with crisis situations 
     and have received counseling by phone as a result of Safe 
     Place information the young people received at school;
       Whereas, through the efforts of Safe Place coordinators 
     across the United States, each year more than 500,000 
     students learn in a classroom presentation that the Safe 
     Place program is a resource they can turn to if they 
     encounter abuse or neglect and 1,000,000 Safe Place 
     information cards are distributed; and
       Whereas increased awareness of the Safe Place program will 
     encourage more communities to establish Safe Place locations 
     for the young people of the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
         Resolved, That the Senate--
         (1) designates the week beginning March 15, 2009, as 
     ``National Safe Place Week''; and
         (2) calls upon the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to--
         (A) promote awareness of, and volunteer for, the Safe 
     Place program; and
         (B) observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

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