[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22505]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               YOUTH SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 1999

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support of H. Res. 
286. The purpose of this legislation is to recognize the week of 
September 19-25, as Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Awareness and 
Prevention Week.
  This resolution is important to any person who has children, and to 
any family that has lost loved ones through suicide. The bill 
recognizes that there is a need to increase awareness about youth 
suicide and make it a national priority.
  I would like to recognize the Light for Family Foundation of America 
and their founders, the Emme family, who tragically lost their teenage 
son, Michael, to suicide in 1994. It was through the vision of the Emme 
family that the Yellow Ribbon Program, which has helped save countless 
lives, has become an integral part of the fight against youth suicide.
  Mr. Speaker, teenage suicide is extremely tragic. I hope and pray 
that this resolution can increase awareness and hopefully prevent the 
loss of more of our Nation's children.

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