[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3265-S3266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GANG RESISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask the Senate to join me in honoring the 
20th anniversary of the Gang Resistance Education and Training--GREAT--
Program and to commend law enforcement agencies across the nation for 
their dedication to educating America's youth in gang resistance.
  Founded in 1991 with the support of Congress, the GREAT Program is a 
school-based curriculum led by law enforcement officers to instruct 
students

[[Page S3266]]

on effective ways to avoid gang involvement and prevent youth violence 
and delinquent behavior. This program provides elementary and middle 
school students with the information and skills necessary to say no to 
gangs, to resolve conflict without the use of violence, and to set 
positive goals for themselves--helping America's youth take important 
steps in creating a future for themselves that does not include gangs 
or violence.
  With western roots, the first GREAT classes were taught in Phoenix, 
AZ, in September of 1991. Over the past 20 years, GREAT has trained 
more than 12,000 law enforcement officers and nearly 6 million children 
have been educated in gang resistance and violence prevention. The 
program has also built key partnerships with nationally recognized 
organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the 
National Association of Police Athletic Leagues. These partnerships 
encourage positive relationships among the community, parents, schools, 
and law enforcement officers and help America's students build positive 
ties with law enforcement officers.
  In March of 1994, my home State of Oregon received its first GREAT 
classes at Parkrose Middle School in Northeast Portland. Since its 
inception in Oregon, Portland Police Bureau officers have taught over 
1,400 GREAT classes with nearly 43,000 graduating students. Portland 
Police Bureau officers have strengthened families to by participating 
in the GREAT families program, which has educated over 80 families 
integrating nearly 300 family members.
  Additionally, I would like to recognize that the Portland Police 
Bureau was chosen by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and 
Firearms as headquarters for the GREAT Program's Western Region, which 
is one of five regional training sites.
  I am proud to honor the GREAT Program's 20th anniversary, the 
thousands of lives it has touched, and share its ongoing commitment to 
strengthening our communities through youth-violence prevention.

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