[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22989-22993]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        MISSING, EXPLOITED, AND RUNAWAY CHILDREN PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair lay 
before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives to 
accompany S. 249 to provide funding for the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children, to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth, 
and for other purposes.
  There being no objection, the Presiding Officer (Mr. Allard) laid 
before the Senate the following message from the House of 
Representatives:

       Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 249) entitled 
     ``An Act to provide funding for the National Center for 
     Missing and Exploited Children, to reauthorize the Runaway 
     and Homeless Youth Act, and for other purposes'', do pass 
     with the following amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Missing, Exploited, and 
     Runaway Children Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

       (a) Findings.--Section 402 of the Missing Children's 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5771) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;

[[Page 22990]]

       (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) for 14 years, the National Center for Missing and 
     Exploited Children has--
       ``(A) served as the national resource center and 
     clearinghouse congressionally mandated under the provisions 
     of the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1984; and
       ``(B) worked in partnership with the Department of Justice, 
     the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the 
     Treasury, the Department of State, and many other agencies in 
     the effort to find missing children and prevent child 
     victimization;
       ``(10) Congress has given the Center, which is a private 
     non-profit corporation, access to the National Crime 
     Information Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System;
       ``(11) since 1987, the Center has operated the National 
     Child Pornography Tipline, in conjunction with the United 
     States Customs Service and the United States Postal 
     Inspection Service and, beginning this year, the Center 
     established a new CyberTipline on child exploitation, thus 
     becoming `the 911 for the Internet';
       ``(12) in light of statistics that time is of the essence 
     in cases of child abduction, the Director of the Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation in February of 1997 created a new 
     NCIC child abduction (`CA') flag to provide the Center 
     immediate notification in the most serious cases, resulting 
     in 642 `CA' notifications to the Center and helping the 
     Center to have its highest recovery rate in history;
       ``(13) the Center has established a national and 
     increasingly worldwide network, linking the Center online 
     with each of the missing children clearinghouses operated by 
     the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as 
     well as with Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom, the Royal 
     Canadian Mounted Police, INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, 
     France, and others, which has enabled the Center to transmit 
     images and information regarding missing children to law 
     enforcement across the United States and around the world 
     instantly;
       ``(14) from its inception in 1984 through March 31, 1998, 
     the Center has--
       ``(A) handled 1,203,974 calls through its 24-hour toll-free 
     hotline (1-800-THE-LOST) and currently averages 700 calls per 
     day;
       ``(B) trained 146,284 law enforcement, criminal and 
     juvenile justice, and healthcare professionals in child 
     sexual exploitation and missing child case detection, 
     identification, investigation, and prevention;
       ``(C) disseminated 15,491,344 free publications to citizens 
     and professionals; and
       ``(D) worked with law enforcement on the cases of 59,481 
     missing children, resulting in the recovery of 40,180 
     children;
       ``(15) the demand for the services of the Center is growing 
     dramatically, as evidenced by the fact that in 1997, the 
     Center handled 129,100 calls, an all-time record, and by the 
     fact that its new Internet website (www.missingkids.com) 
     receives 1,500,000 `hits' every day, and is linked with 
     hundreds of other websites to provide real-time images of 
     breaking cases of missing children;
       ``(16) in 1997, the Center provided policy training to 256 
     police chiefs and sheriffs from 50 States and Guam at its new 
     Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center;
       ``(17) the programs of the Center have had a remarkable 
     impact, such as in the fight against infant abductions in 
     partnership with the healthcare industry, during which the 
     Center has performed 668 onsite hospital walk-throughs and 
     inspections, and trained 45,065 hospital administrators, 
     nurses, and security personnel, and thereby helped to reduce 
     infant abductions in the United States by 82 percent;
       ``(18) the Center is now playing a significant role in 
     international child abduction cases, serving as a 
     representative of the Department of State at cases under The 
     Hague Convention, and successfully resolving the cases of 343 
     international child abductions, and providing greater support 
     to parents in the United States;
       ``(19) the Center is a model of public/private partnership, 
     raising private sector funds to match congressional 
     appropriations and receiving extensive private in-kind 
     support, including advanced technology provided by the 
     computer industry such as imaging technology used to age the 
     photographs of long-term missing children and to reconstruct 
     facial images of unidentified deceased children;
       ``(20) the Center was 1 of only 10 of 300 major national 
     charities given an A+ grade in 1997 by the American Institute 
     of Philanthropy; and
       ``(21) the Center has been redesignated as the Nation's 
     missing children clearinghouse and resource center once every 
     3 years through a competitive selection process conducted by 
     the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of 
     the Department of Justice, and has received grants from that 
     Office to conduct the crucial purposes of the Center.''.
       (b) Definitions.--Section 403 of the Missing Children's 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5772) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) the term `Center' means the National Center for 
     Missing and Exploited Children.''.
       (c) Duties and Functions of the Administrator.--Section 404 
     of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
       (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and 
     Exploited Children.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall annually make a 
     grant to the Center, which shall be used to--
       ``(A)(i) operate a national 24-hour toll-free telephone 
     line by which individuals may report information regarding 
     the location of any missing child, or other child 13 years of 
     age or younger whose whereabouts are unknown to such child's 
     legal custodian, and request information pertaining to 
     procedures necessary to reunite such child with such child's 
     legal custodian; and
       ``(ii) coordinate the operation of such telephone line with 
     the operation of the national communications system referred 
     to in part C of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5714-11);
       ``(B) operate the official national resource center and 
     information clearinghouse for missing and exploited children;
       ``(C) provide to State and local governments, public and 
     private nonprofit agencies, and individuals, information 
     regarding--
       ``(i) free or low-cost legal, restaurant, lodging, and 
     transportation services that are available for the benefit of 
     missing and exploited children and their families; and
       ``(ii) the existence and nature of programs being carried 
     out by Federal agencies to assist missing and exploited 
     children and their families;
       ``(D) coordinate public and private programs that locate, 
     recover, or reunite missing children with their families;
       ``(E) disseminate, on a national basis, information 
     relating to innovative and model programs, services, and 
     legislation that benefit missing and exploited children;
       ``(F) provide technical assistance and training to law 
     enforcement agencies, State and local governments, elements 
     of the criminal justice system, public and private nonprofit 
     agencies, and individuals in the prevention, investigation, 
     prosecution, and treatment of cases involving missing and 
     exploited children; and
       ``(G) provide assistance to families and law enforcement 
     agencies in locating and recovering missing and exploited 
     children, both nationally and internationally.
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this 
     subsection, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 
     2002, and 2003.
       ``(c) National Incidence Studies.--The Administrator, 
     either by making grants to or entering into contracts with 
     public agencies or nonprofit private agencies, shall--
       ``(1) periodically conduct national incidence studies to 
     determine for a given year the actual number of children 
     reported missing each year, the number of children who are 
     victims of abduction by strangers, the number of children who 
     are the victims of parental kidnapings, and the number of 
     children who are recovered each year; and
       ``(2) provide to State and local governments, public and 
     private nonprofit agencies, and individuals information to 
     facilitate the lawful use of school records and birth 
     certificates to identify and locate missing children.''.
       (d) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.--
     Section 405(a) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5775(a)) is amended by inserting ``the Center and 
     with'' before ``public agencies''.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 408 of the 
     Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5777) is amended 
     by striking ``1997 through 2001'' and inserting ``2000 
     through 2003''.

     SEC. 3. RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH.

       (a) Findings.--Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless 
     Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``accurate reporting of 
     the problem nationally and to develop'' and inserting ``an 
     accurate national reporting system to report the problem, and 
     to assist in the development of''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:
       ``(8) services for runaway and homeless youth are needed in 
     urban, suburban, and rural areas;''.
       (b) Authority To Make Grants for Centers and Services.--
     Section 311 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5711) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to 
     public and nonprofit private entities (and combinations of 
     such entities) to establish and operate (including 
     renovation) local centers to provide services for runaway and 
     homeless youth and for the families of such youth.
       ``(2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph 
     (1)--
       ``(A) shall be provided as an alternative to involving 
     runaway and homeless youth in the law enforcement, child 
     welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems;
       ``(B) shall include--
       ``(i) safe and appropriate shelter; and
       ``(ii) individual, family, and group counseling, as 
     appropriate; and
       ``(C) may include--
       ``(i) street-based services;
       ``(ii) home-based services for families with youth at risk 
     of separation from the family; and

[[Page 22991]]

       ``(iii) drug abuse education and prevention services.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``the Trust Territory 
     of the Pacific Islands,''; and
       (3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
       (c) Eligibility.--Section 312 of the Runaway and Homeless 
     Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5712) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (6)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (7)'';
       (B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
     includes, with respect to the year for which the report is 
     submitted--
       ``(A) information regarding the activities carried out 
     under this part;
       ``(B) the achievements of the project under this part 
     carried out by the applicant; and
       ``(C) statistical summaries describing--
       ``(i) the number and the characteristics of the runaway and 
     homeless youth, and youth at risk of family separation, who 
     participate in the project; and
       ``(ii) the services provided to such youth by the 
     project.''; and
       (2) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(c) Applicants Providing Street-Based Services.--To be 
     eligible to use assistance under section 311(a)(2)(C)(i) to 
     provide street-based services, the applicant shall include in 
     the plan required by subsection (b) assurances that in 
     providing such services the applicant will--
       ``(1) provide qualified supervision of staff, including on-
     street supervision by appropriately trained staff;
       ``(2) provide backup personnel for on-street staff;
       ``(3) provide initial and periodic training of staff who 
     provide such services; and
       ``(4) conduct outreach activities for runaway and homeless 
     youth, and street youth.
       ``(d) Applicants Providing Home-Based Services.--To be 
     eligible to use assistance under section 311(a) to provide 
     home-based services described in section 311(a)(2)(C)(ii), an 
     applicant shall include in the plan required by subsection 
     (b) assurances that in providing such services the applicant 
     will--
       ``(1) provide counseling and information to youth and the 
     families (including unrelated individuals in the family 
     households) of such youth, including services relating to 
     basic life skills, interpersonal skill building, educational 
     advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical 
     health care, parenting skills, financial planning, and 
     referral to sources of other needed services;
       ``(2) provide directly, or through an arrangement made by 
     the applicant, 24-hour service to respond to family crises 
     (including immediate access to temporary shelter for runaway 
     and homeless youth, and youth at risk of separation from the 
     family);
       ``(3) establish, in partnership with the families of 
     runaway and homeless youth, and youth at risk of separation 
     from the family, objectives and measures of success to be 
     achieved as a result of receiving home-based services;
       ``(4) provide initial and periodic training of staff who 
     provide home-based services; and
       ``(5) ensure that--
       ``(A) caseloads will remain sufficiently low to allow for 
     intensive (5 to 20 hours per week) involvement with each 
     family receiving such services; and
       ``(B) staff providing such services will receive qualified 
     supervision.
       ``(e) Applicants Providing Drug Abuse Education and 
     Prevention Services.--To be eligible to use assistance under 
     section 311(a)(2)(C)(iii) to provide drug abuse education and 
     prevention services, an applicant shall include in the plan 
     required by subsection (b)--
       ``(1) a description of--
       ``(A) the types of such services that the applicant 
     proposes to provide;
       ``(B) the objectives of such services; and
       ``(C) the types of information and training to be provided 
     to individuals providing such services to runaway and 
     homeless youth; and
       ``(2) an assurance that in providing such services the 
     applicant shall conduct outreach activities for runaway and 
     homeless youth.''.
       (d) Approval of Applications.--Section 313 of the Runaway 
     and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5713) is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SEC. 313. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--An application by a public or private 
     entity for a grant under section 311(a) may be approved by 
     the Secretary after taking into consideration, with respect 
     to the State in which such entity proposes to provide 
     services under this part--
       ``(1) the geographical distribution in such State of the 
     proposed services under this part for which all grant 
     applicants request approval; and
       ``(2) which areas of such State have the greatest need for 
     such services.
       ``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under 
     section 311(a), the Secretary shall give priority to--
       ``(1) eligible applicants who have demonstrated experience 
     in providing services to runaway and homeless youth; and
       ``(2) eligible applicants that request grants of less than 
     $200,000.''.
       (e) Authority for Transitional Living Grant Program.--
     Section 321 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5714-1) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``purpose and'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a)''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (b).
       (f) Eligibility.--Section 322(a)(9) of the Runaway and 
     Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)(9)) is amended by 
     inserting ``, and the services provided to such youth by such 
     project,'' after ``such project''.
       (g) Coordination.--Section 341 of the Runaway and Homeless 
     Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-21) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 341. COORDINATION.

       ``With respect to matters relating to the health, 
     education, employment, and housing of runaway and homeless 
     youth, the Secretary--
       ``(1) in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall 
     coordinate the activities of agencies of the Department of 
     Health and Human Services with activities under any other 
     Federal juvenile crime control, prevention, and juvenile 
     offender accountability program and with the activities of 
     other Federal entities; and
       ``(2) shall coordinate the activities of agencies of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services with the activities 
     of other Federal entities and with the activities of entities 
     that are eligible to receive grants under this title.''.
       (h) Authority To Make Grants for Research, Evaluation, 
     Demonstration, and Service Projects.--Section 343 of the 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-23) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``evaluation,'' 
     after ``research,'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by inserting ``evaluation,'' after 
     ``research,''; and
       (3) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as 
     paragraphs (2) through (9), respectively.
       (i) Study.--Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 5731 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 
     344 the following:

     ``SEC. 345. STUDY

       ``The Secretary shall conduct a study of a representative 
     sample of runaways to determine the percent who leave home 
     because of sexual abuse. The report on the study shall 
     include--
       ``(1) in the case of sexual abuse , the relationship of the 
     assaulter to the runaway; and
       ``(2) recommendations on how Federal laws may be changed to 
     reduce sexual assaults on children.

     The study shall be completed to enable the Secretary to make 
     a report to the committees of Congress with jurisdiction over 
     this Act, and to make such report available to the public, 
     within one year of the date of the enactment of this 
     section.''
       (j) Assistance to Potential Grantees.--Section 371 of the 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a) is amended 
     by striking the last sentence.
       (k) Reports.--Section 381 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5715) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 381. REPORTS.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than April 1, 2000, and 
     biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit, to the 
     Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
     Senate, a report on the status, activities, and 
     accomplishments of entities that receive grants under parts 
     A, B, C, D, and E, with particular attention to--
       ``(1) in the case of centers funded under part A, the 
     ability or effectiveness of such centers in--
       ``(A) alleviating the problems of runaway and homeless 
     youth;
       ``(B) if applicable or appropriate, reuniting such youth 
     with their families and encouraging the resolution of 
     intrafamily problems through counseling and other services;
       ``(C) strengthening family relationships and encouraging 
     stable living conditions for such youth; and
       ``(D) assisting such youth to decide upon a future course 
     of action; and
       ``(2) in the case of projects funded under part B--
       ``(A) the number and characteristics of homeless youth 
     served by such projects;
       ``(B) the types of activities carried out by such projects;
       ``(C) the effectiveness of such projects in alleviating the 
     problems of homeless youth;
       ``(D) the effectiveness of such projects in preparing 
     homeless youth for self-sufficiency;
       ``(E) the effectiveness of such projects in assisting 
     homeless youth to decide upon future education, employment, 
     and independent living;
       ``(F) the ability of such projects to encourage the 
     resolution of intrafamily problems through counseling and 
     development of self-sufficient living skills; and
       ``(G) activities and programs planned by such projects for 
     the following fiscal year.
       ``(b) Contents of Reports.--The Secretary shall include in 
     each report submitted under subsection (a), summaries of--
       ``(1) the evaluations performed by the Secretary under 
     section 386; and
       ``(2) descriptions of the qualifications of, and training 
     provided to, individuals involved in carrying out such 
     evaluations.''.
       (l) Evaluation.--Section 384 of the Runaway and Homeless 
     Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 386. EVALUATION AND INFORMATION.

       ``(a) In General.--If a grantee receives grants for 3 
     consecutive fiscal years under part A, B, C, D, or E (in the 
     alternative), then the Secretary

[[Page 22992]]

     shall evaluate such grantee on-site, not less frequently than 
     once in the period of such 3 consecutive fiscal years, for 
     purposes of--
       ``(1) determining whether such grants are being used for 
     the purposes for which such grants are made by the Secretary;
       ``(2) collecting additional information for the report 
     required by section 384; and
       ``(3) providing such information and assistance to such 
     grantee as will enable such grantee to improve the operation 
     of the centers, projects, and activities for which such 
     grants are made.
       ``(b) Cooperation.--Recipients of grants under this title 
     shall cooperate with the Secretary's efforts to carry out 
     evaluations, and to collect information, under this title.''.
       (m) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 385 of the 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 388. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this title (other than part E) such 
     sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, 
     and 2003.
       ``(2) Allocation.--
       ``(A) Parts a and b.--From the amount appropriated under 
     paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 
     not less than 90 percent to carry out parts A and B.
       ``(B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under subparagraph 
     (A), not less than 20 percent, and not more than 30 percent, 
     shall be reserved to carry out part B.
       ``(3) Parts c and d.--In each fiscal year, after reserving 
     the amounts required by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
     use the remaining amount (if any) to carry out parts C and D.
       ``(b) Separate Identification Required.--No funds 
     appropriated to carry out this title may be combined with 
     funds appropriated under any other Act if the purpose of 
     combining such funds is to make a single discretionary grant, 
     or a single discretionary payment, unless such funds are 
     separately identified in all grants and contracts and are 
     used for the purposes specified in this title.''.
       (n) Sexual Abuse Prevention Program.--
       (1) Authority for program.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
       (A) by striking the heading for part F;
       (B) by redesignating part E as part F; and
       (C) by inserting after part D the following:

               ``PART E--SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM

     ``SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to 
     nonprofit private agencies for the purpose of providing 
     street-based services to runaway and homeless, and street 
     youth, who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being 
     subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual 
     exploitation.
       ``(b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to 
     nonprofit private agencies that have experience in providing 
     services to runaway and homeless, and street youth.''.
       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 388(a) of the 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751), as amended 
     by subsection (m) of this section, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(4) Part e.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out part E such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
     years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.''.
       (o) Consolidated Review of Applications.--The Runaway and 
     Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended by 
     inserting after section 383 the following:

     ``SEC. 385. CONSOLIDATED REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.

       ``With respect to funds available to carry out parts A, B, 
     C, D, and E, nothing in this title shall be construed to 
     prohibit the Secretary from--
       ``(1) announcing, in a single announcement, the 
     availability of funds for grants under 2 or more of such 
     parts; and
       ``(2) reviewing applications for grants under 2 or more of 
     such parts in a single, consolidated application review 
     process.''.
       (p) Definitions.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     386, as amended by subsection (l) of this section, the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 387. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this title:
       ``(1) Drug abuse education and prevention services.--The 
     term `drug abuse education and prevention services'--
       ``(A) means services to runaway and homeless youth to 
     prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by such youth; and
       ``(B) may include--
       ``(i) individual, family, group, and peer counseling;
       ``(ii) drop-in services;
       ``(iii) assistance to runaway and homeless youth in rural 
     areas (including the development of community support 
     groups);
       ``(iv) information and training relating to the illicit use 
     of drugs by runaway and homeless youth, to individuals 
     involved in providing services to such youth; and
       ``(v) activities to improve the availability of local drug 
     abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless youth.
       ``(2) Home-based services.--The term `home-based 
     services'--
       ``(A) means services provided to youth and their families 
     for the purpose of--
       ``(i) preventing such youth from running away, or otherwise 
     becoming separated, from their families; and
       ``(ii) assisting runaway youth to return to their families; 
     and
       ``(B) includes services that are provided in the residences 
     of families (to the extent practicable), including--
       ``(i) intensive individual and family counseling; and
       ``(ii) training relating to life skills and parenting.
       ``(3) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' means an 
     individual--
       ``(A) who is--
       ``(i) not more than 21 years of age; and
       ``(ii) for the purposes of part B, not less than 16 years 
     of age;
       ``(B) for whom it is not possible to live in a safe 
     environment with a relative; and
       ``(C) who has no other safe alternative living arrangement.
       ``(4) Street-based services.--The term `street-based 
     services'--
       ``(A) means services provided to runaway and homeless 
     youth, and street youth, in areas where they congregate, 
     designed to assist such youth in making healthy personal 
     choices regarding where they live and how they behave; and
       ``(B) may include--
       ``(i) identification of and outreach to runaway and 
     homeless youth, and street youth;
       ``(ii) crisis intervention and counseling;
       ``(iii) information and referral for housing;
       ``(iv) information and referral for transitional living and 
     health care services;
       ``(v) advocacy, education, and prevention services related 
     to--

       ``(I) alcohol and drug abuse;
       ``(II) sexual exploitation;
       ``(III) sexually transmitted diseases, including human 
     immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and
       ``(IV) physical and sexual assault.

       ``(5) Street youth.--The term `street youth' means an 
     individual who--
       ``(A) is--
       ``(i) a runaway youth; or
       ``(ii) indefinitely or intermittently a homeless youth; and
       ``(B) spends a significant amount of time on the street or 
     in other areas that increase the risk to such youth for 
     sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug 
     abuse.
       ``(6) Transitional living youth project.--The term 
     `transitional living youth project' means a project that 
     provides shelter and services designed to promote a 
     transition to self-sufficient living and to prevent long-term 
     dependency on social services.
       ``(7) Youth at risk of separation from the family.--The 
     term `youth at risk of separation from the family' means an 
     individual--
       ``(A) who is less than 18 years of age; and
       ``(B)(i) who has a history of running away from the family 
     of such individual;
       ``(ii) whose parent, guardian, or custodian is not willing 
     to provide for the basic needs of such individual; or
       ``(iii) who is at risk of entering the child welfare system 
     or juvenile justice system as a result of the lack of 
     services available to the family to meet such needs.''.
       (q) Redesignation of Sections.--Sections 371, 372, 381, 
     382, and 383 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5714b-5851 et seq.), as amended by this Act, are redesignated 
     as sections 380, 381, 382, 383, and 384, respectively.
       (r) Technical Amendments.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 331, in the first sentence, by striking 
     ``With'' and all that follows through ``the Secretary'', and 
     inserting ``The Secretary''; and
       (2) in section 344(a)(1), by striking ``With'' and all that 
     follows through ``the Secretary'', and inserting ``The 
     Secretary''.

     SEC. 4. STUDY OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE.

       (a) Contract for Study.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education 
     shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of 
     Sciences for the purposes of conducting a study regarding the 
     antecedents of school violence in urban, suburban, and rural 
     schools, including the incidents of school violence that 
     occurred in Pearl, Mississippi; Paducah, Kentucky; Jonesboro, 
     Arkansas; Springfield, Oregon; Edinboro, Pennsylvania; 
     Fayetteville, Tennessee; Littleton, Colorado; and Conyers, 
     Georgia. Under the terms of such contract, the National 
     Academy of Sciences shall appoint a panel that will--
       (1) review the relevant research about adolescent violence 
     in general and school violence in particular, including the 
     existing longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on youth 
     that are relevant to examining violent behavior;
       (2) relate what can be learned from past and current 
     research and surveys to specific incidents of school 
     shootings;
       (3) interview relevant individuals, if possible, such as 
     the perpetrators of such incidents, their families, their 
     friends, their teachers, mental health providers, and others; 
     and
       (4) give particular attention to such issues as--
       (A) the perpetrators' early development, families, 
     communities, school experiences, and utilization of mental 
     health services;
       (B) the relationship between perpetrators and their 
     victims;
       (C) how the perpetrators gained access to firearms;
       (D) the impact of cultural influences and exposure to the 
     media, video games, and the Internet; and

[[Page 22993]]

       (E) such other issues as the panel deems important or 
     relevant to the purpose of the study.
     The National Academy of Sciences shall utilize professionals 
     with expertise in such issues, including psychiatrists, 
     social workers, behavioral and social scientists, 
     practitioners, epidemiologists, statisticians, and 
     methodologists.
       (b) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall submit 
     a report containing the results of the study required by 
     subsection (a), to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the 
     Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on 
     Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, 
     and the Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not 
     later than January 1, 2001, or 18 months after entering into 
     the contract required by such subsection, whichever is 
     earlier.
       (c) Appropriation.--Of the funds made available under 
     Public Law 105-277 for the Department of Education, $2.1 
     million shall be made available to carry out this section.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, at-long last the Congress is approving and 
passing S. 249, the Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children Protection 
Act, which will reauthorize programs under the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act and will authorize funding for the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children. I have been working since 1996 to get 
this legislation reauthorized. For each of the past several months I 
have come to the floor to express my disappointment over how long it 
has taken to pass this noncontroversial legislation.
  I had some minor concerns with the House amended version of S. 249, 
but as I said in my statement June 30 of this year, after receiving 
some clarification and assurances from Secretary Shalala on these 
concerns, I decided that the House amendments should not keep this 
important piece of legislation from passing. I am pleased that we could 
finally clear this bill on the other side of the aisle.
  The Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children Protection Act of 1999 
reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and 
authorizes funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children. Both programs are critical to our nation's youth and to our 
nation's well-being.
  In addition to providing shelter for children in need, the Runaway 
and Homeless Youth Act ensures that these children and their families 
have access to important services, such as individual, family or group 
counseling, alcohol and drug counseling and a myriad of other resources 
available to help these young people and their families get back on 
track. As the National Network for Youth has stressed, the Act's 
programs ``provide critical assistance to youth in high-risk situations 
all over the country.''
  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides 
extremely worthwhile and effective assistance to children and families 
facing crises across the U.S. and around the world. In 1998, the 
National Center helped law enforcement officers locate over 5,000 
missing children. The National Center serves a critical role as a 
clearinghouse of resources and information for both family members and 
law enforcement officers. They have developed a network of hotels and 
restaurants which provide free services to parents in search of their 
children and have also developed extensive training programs.
  I do want to thank the many advocates, who have worked with me over 
the years, for their tireless efforts to improve the bill. In 
particular, I must mention the members of the Vermont Coalition of 
runaway and Homeless Youth Programs and the National Network for Youth 
for their dedication throughout this process.
  This bill, S. 249, should have been enacted last year. It should have 
been enacted when the Houses finally sent it back to us in May of this 
year. There was absolutely no reason to stall on this noncontroversial 
legislation. I am pleased that we were finally able to pass it so these 
important programs can continue to succeed.
  I reincorporate my remarks from June 30, July 15 and August 5 and I 
ask unanimous consent that a copy of my letter to Secretary Shalala and 
the response that I received be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                             United States Senate,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                     Washington, DC, May 26, 1999.
     Hon. Donna Shalala,
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Shalala: I am pleased that we are close to 
     enactment of S. 249, the Missing, Exploited, and Runaway 
     Children Protection Act of 1999, which will reauthorize 
     programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) and 
     authorize funding for the National Center for Missing and 
     Exploited Children. The Senate passed the Leahy-Hatch 
     substitute to S. 249 on April 19, by unanimous consent. 
     Yesterday, the House passed its version of this legislation.
       I am concerned about language inserted into the bill during 
     House consideration upon which the Senate was not consulted. 
     That language provides for a ``consolidated review of 
     applications'' of RHYA grants. Before agreeing to the new 
     language, I need to be assured that this could in no way be 
     construed as consolidating any of the RHYA programs under a 
     single formula allocation.
       As you know now, under the RHYA, each year each State is 
     awarded at a minimum $100,000 for housing and crisis services 
     under the Basic Center grant program. Effective community-
     based programs around the country can also apply directly for 
     the funding available for the Transitional Living Program and 
     the Sexual Abuse Prevention/Street Outreach grants.
       I hope that you can clarify that the new language inserted 
     by House will do nothing to collapse the distinct programs 
     authorized under the RHYA. These programs are very important 
     and I would like to see the legislation passed without 
     further delay.
       I have been working since 1996 to enact this reauthorizing 
     legislation. I worked to have the Senate pass this 
     legislation during the last Congress and again earlier this 
     year. With your assurance that Vermont and other small states 
     will not be disadvantaged by the language inserted by the 
     House in competing for national grant funding, I will seek to 
     expedite enactment.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Patrick Leahy,
     Ranking Member.
                                  ____

                                              Department of Health


                                           and Human Services,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 1999.
     Hon. Patrick Leahy,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy: You have asked us to consider the 
     impact of certain language recently inserted into the House 
     version of S. 249, the ``Missing, Exploited, and Runaway 
     Children Act of 1999''. Specifically, you have asked us to 
     consider whether proposed section 385, Consolidated Review of 
     Applications, will adversely affect the eligibility of small 
     States to receive Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) 
     funding above the minimum grant allotment of the RHYA Basic 
     Center Grant program.
       I am advised by General Counsel that currently the 
     Secretary has wide statutory discretion to prescribe the 
     procedures which will be used in awarding various grants 
     under the RHYA. The Secretary presently exercises this 
     discretion by choosing to include in a consolidated grant 
     announcement several discrete funding opportunities with 
     distinct application requirements. After studying the 
     pertinent language in S. 249, General Counsel has concluded 
     that the proposed legislation provides for a similar level of 
     discretion with respect to procedures to be used for various 
     grant awards under the RHYA. Therefore, since the proposed 
     legislation does not require the Secretary to change in any 
     way her current procedures for awarding RHYA grants, it will 
     not require the Secretary to commingle the current separate 
     and discrete RHYA funding opportunities so as to adversely 
     affect the eligibility of small States to receive RHYA 
     funding above the minimum grant allotment of the RHYA Basic 
     Center grant program.
       I hope this information is helpful to you as you proceed 
     with final consideration of S. 249. The Department deeply 
     appreciates all your efforts to reauthorize the Runaway and 
     Homeless Youth Act.
           Sincerely,
                                               Richard J. Tarplin,
                              Assistant Secretary for Legislation.

  Mr. HAGEL. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate agree to the 
amendment of the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________