[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 160 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8039-H8040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING NATIONAL RUNAWAY PREVENTION MONTH

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1687) supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Runaway Prevention Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1687

       Whereas the number of runaway and homeless youth in the 
     United States is staggering, with studies suggesting that 
     between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youth live on the streets 
     each year;
       Whereas the problem of children who run away from home is 
     widespread, as youth between 12 and 17 years of age are at a 
     higher risk of homelessness than adults;
       Whereas runaway youth are often expelled from their homes 
     by their families, discharged by State custodial systems 
     without adequate transition plans, separated from their 
     parents by death and divorce, or physically, sexually, and 
     emotionally abused at home;
       Whereas runaway youth are often too poor to secure their 
     own basic needs and are ineligible or unable to access 
     adequate medical or mental health resources;
       Whereas effective programs that provide support to runaway 
     youth and assist them in remaining at home with their 
     families can succeed through partnerships created among 
     families, community-based human service agencies, law 
     enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and 
     businesses;
       Whereas preventing youth from running away from home and 
     supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, 
     community, and national priority;
       Whereas the future of the Nation is dependent on providing 
     opportunities for youth to acquire the knowledge, skills, and 
     abilities necessary to develop into safe, healthy, and 
     productive adults;
       Whereas the National Network for Youth and its members 
     advocate on behalf of runaway and homeless youth and provide 
     an array of community-based support to address their critical 
     needs;
       Whereas the National Runaway Switchboard provides crisis 
     intervention and referrals to reconnect runaway youth with 
     their families and link youth to local resources that provide 
     positive alternatives to running away from home; and
       Whereas during the month of November, the National Network 
     for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard are 
     cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month, in order to 
     increase public awareness of the circumstances faced by youth 
     in high-risk situations and to address the need to provide 
     resources and support for safe, healthy, and productive 
     alternatives for at-risk youth, their families, and their 
     communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
     supports the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention 
     Month.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. I now yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 1687 for 
consideration. This resolution recognizes the importance of youth 
runaway prevention and at-risk youth programs. House Resolution 1687 
was introduced by our colleague, Representative Judy Biggert of 
Illinois, on September 29, 2010. Notably, this measure enjoys the 
support of 55 cosponsors.
  Madam Speaker, according to the National Runaway Switchboard, between 
1.6 million and 2.8 million youth run away from home every year. 
Notably, the National Runaway Switchboard reports that among those 
youth at greatest risk of running away and facing homelessness are 
those that have been expelled from home, those that have suffered 
domestic abuse, and those that have been discharged by State custodial 
systems without the benefit of adequate transitional planning. 
Additionally, youth that have been separated from their parents by 
death or divorce, live in poverty, and/or are unable to access adequate 
medical or mental health resources are similarly at risk of running 
away and becoming homeless.
  Madam Speaker, in light of the prevalence of the problem of runaway 
youth as well as youth homelessness, let us take this opportunity to 
pass House Resolution 1687 and recognize the important role that youth 
runaway prevention and at-risk youth programs play in addressing these 
issues. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Today I rise in support of House Resolution 1687, expressing the 
support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of 
National Runaway Prevention Month.
  Studies suggest that nearly 3 million children are living on the 
street each year. Many of these individuals, who come from every 
socioeconomic background, have been kicked out of their homes, 
separated from their parents, or physically abused. Worse, these at-
risk youth often find it increasingly difficult or even impossible to 
acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to develop into 
safe, healthy and productive adults. That's why it is so important that 
we pass this resolution today, to raise awareness of the plight of 
runaway youth and increase public understanding of the role individual 
Americans can play in helping to prevent youth from running away from 
home.
  As cochair of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, I have 
worked with my colleagues to help address many of the issues that face 
runaways and their families. The caucus has done some great work, and I 
would like to extend to all of my colleagues in the House an invitation 
to join us in exploring ways to improve the well-being of distressed 
youth and reduce the incidence of runaways.
  In addition, I would like to commend the work done by organizations 
such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the 
National Runaway Switchboard as well as similar organizations across 
the country that help ensure runaways and homeless kids in our 
communities aren't deprived of a chance at a future. In my home State 
of Illinois alone, almost 7,500 calls were placed to the National 
Runaway Switchboard last year, and nationally the organization fielded 
over 117,000 calls. For more than two decades, the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children has worked

[[Page H8040]]

with communities to coordinate strategies to reunite children with 
their families.
  With so many children living on the street and the risk that runaway 
youth pose to themselves and their communities, it is clear that much 
work still remains. But by highlighting the problem and expressing 
support for the valuable work done by communities and youth 
organizations, we can make significant progress towards preventing 
instances of children running away from home and create an environment 
in which our Nation's at-risk youth have access to the building blocks 
for a lifetime of success.
  With that, I would like to encourage all my colleagues to support 
this important resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, again let me thank our colleague Mrs. 
Biggert of Illinois for introducing this important legislation and let 
me again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1687.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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