[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      H.R. 68, TIFFANY JOSLYN JUVENILE ACCOUNTABILITY BLOCK GRANT 
      REAUTHORIZATION AND BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House of 
Representatives l has passed my bill H.R. 68, the Tiffany Joslyn 
Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying 
Prevention and Intervention Act.
  Passage of H.R. 68 came about as a result of hard and great teamwork 
amongst our amazing staff on both sides of the aisle. I am heartened by 
the work done on this bill along with the other four bills up for 
unanimous consent. I commend Chairman Goodlatte's leadership on this 
effort to help pass H.R. 68. And after 5 years of this bill not being 
reauthorized, I am pleased that the fight I waged on behalf of Juvenile 
Justice Reform has been brought to House passage with the support of my 
Judiciary and House Colleagues.
  This bill was named for Tiffany May Joslyn, a champion for criminal 
justice reform, who served as my Deputy Chief Counsel of the Crime 
Subcommittee and whose life tragically was cut short on March 5, 2016, 
in a car accident that sadly also claimed the life of her brother, 
Derrick. She was just 33 years old.
  So today's passage of H.R. 68 is both bitter and sweet. She would 
have been proud, as she championed these causes. This moment is for 
both her and for all the countless juveniles that will be helped by 
this bill.
  H.R. 68 will help to stem this epidemic of Juvenile incarceration by 
reauthorizing the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program (JABG) 
and providing funding to state and local governments for the creation 
of bullying and gang prevention programs.
  It will authorize such appropriations as may be necessary, which is 
anticipated to be at least $30 million per year.
  In addition to reauthorizing juvenile justice programs, H.R. 68 
clarifies how to address the occurrences of bullying through 
developmentally appropriate intervention and prevention techniques, 
which center on evidence-based models and best practices that rely on 
schools and communities rather than involvement from law enforcement 
and the justice system.
  H.R. 68 is designed to help both the victims and perpetrators of 
bullying. Research studies have shown that approximately 25 percent of 
school bullies will be convicted of a criminal offense in their adult 
years.
  It also includes provisions for gang prevention programs, which will 
help guide our children towards socially beneficial paths. If we want 
our children to learn, we must be able to maintain a safe and healthy 
school environment. Bullying is a massive issue in our nation's 
schools.
  The National Center for Educational Studies reports show that 14 
percent of 12- to 18-year-olds surveyed report being victims of direct 
or indirect bullying. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied.
  Bullying is not just in a schoolyard anymore; it is a crisis that's 
taking over our nation. Gone are the days that children can come home 
and seek solace and escape from their bullies; technological advances 
have made it easy for young people to be tormented on social networks 
at any time from any place.
  They are never out of harm's reach. This needs to end. Americans 
children should be protected, and no child should be persecuted for 
exercising their American right to be themselves. It is time for us to 
come to a conclusive solution to America's bullying crisis. My bill, 
H.R. 68, the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 
Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, 
provides the solution that we need.
  This is why I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up and pass 
H.R. 68 so that we may keep all of our children safe.


                                   Campaign for Youth Justice,

                                               September 28, 2018.
     Hon. Paul Ryan,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Robert W. Goodlatte,
     Chair, Judiciary Committee,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Minority Leader, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Ranking Member, Judiciary Committee,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Chairman Goodlatte, and 
     Ranking Member Nadler: As the House of Representatives 
     considers critical aspects of criminal justice reform, the 
     Campaign for Youth Justice encourages you to support H.R. 68, 
     the ``Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Program 
     Grant Reauthorization Act of 2017.''
       The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant expired in 2013 and 
     in the past five years has gone unfunded by the federal 
     government. The expiration of this block grant program has 
     greatly limited state's abilities to implement effective, age 
     appropriate accountability and prevention measures to ensure 
     children get needed services and that communities remain 
     safe.
       H.R. 68 updates the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 
     (JABG) to reflect current research and practice. Key 
     provisions in the bill include incentives for states to use 
     graduated sanctions and incentives grounded in positive youth 
     development, providing enhanced anti-bullying measures, and 
     youth violence prevention and intervention services. It also 
     updates the JABG to include evidence-based practices such as 
     trauma informed practices and mental health care.
       Federal support for juvenile justice programming has 
     suffered greatly in the past decade, with funding decreasing 
     nearly 50% to states. Reauthorizing this important program, 
     with recommended funding levels of $30 million, would make a 
     tremendous difference to youth, families and communities.
       We thank you for your consideration of this important bill.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Marcy Mistrett,
     CEO, Campaign for Youth Justice.

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