[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE CONFERENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening in great anticipation 
of next week's Voices Against Violence Teen Conference. The conference 
is a unique opportunity for Congress to listen to our Nation's youth. 
In our efforts to understand our young people and to curtail the 
violence which surrounds them all too often, we sometimes forget to 
consult the teenagers themselves. This is a mistake. It is time for us 
to learn from them.
  When applications for this conference were distributed in my 
district, I thought there would be some interest, but I was simply 
overwhelmed by the response. It was tough deciding on the three 
teenagers to send to Washington, so I decided to form a Youth Advisory 
Council in my district. This council made up of all the applicants will 
advise the three delegates on their trip to the conference.
  Our first Advisory Council meeting was held this past Monday. 
Students came from across my district, from Paso Robles to Santa 
Barbara. Some drove for 2 hours to have their opinions and feelings 
heard. The discussions were riveting and moving. It was fascinating to 
hear their views on the causes of youth and violence from young people 
themselves. Family was the focus. More than anything, these students 
see a strong home environment as the key to happier, better adjusted 
children and reduced violence.
  Young people need to rely on their parents. They need to be able to 
communicate with their family members. They also cited peer and 
academic pressures, violence in the media, socioeconomic circumstances 
and discrimination as root causes of youth violence. Drugs and alcohol 
are also seen as contributing factors. Gun safety issues and gang 
pressures are certainly a part of their lives.
  We discussed a range of solutions from metal detectors to school 
counseling to hot lines to recreational programs. Students raised the 
idea of having closed campuses on their high schools, limiting the 
ability of students to leave the building throughout the day. I was 
astounded to hear that some of the students do not think that closed 
campuses are realistic because they are too crowded.
  One described his high school which houses 3100 students although it 
was built for 1800. I had not really thought of the school construction 
efforts here in Congress as being linked to school violence, but these 
students showed me that that link is very much a reality.
  In more emotional moments we heard from a brave young woman who 
talked about her personal and triumphant battle with drugs, a habit 
which had been spurred on by the drug use and addiction of her parents. 
Another young woman recounted the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend on 
school grounds. She spoke with the deceased young man's mother sitting 
close by her side.
  These are stories that we in Congress must hear and keep with us as 
we sort out our legislative options.
  Madam Speaker, it is time for us to start listening to the students. 
Their insight can help us to understand the roots of today's violence 
and what we can do to help them stop it. I am so pleased that I will be 
able to welcome Cheyrl Villapania from El Puente High School in Santa 
Barbara, Stacie Pollock from Righetti High School in Santa Maria, and 
Brandon Tuman from Arroyo Grande High School in San Luis Obispo County. 
They are going to travel across the country next week to attend our 
conference, and I also commend their chaperone, Raquel Lopez, from 
Girls Incorporated in Santa Barbara. These capable young people will be 
the eyes and ears of our Youth Advisory Council here in Washington D.C. 
They will bring the concerns of the young people from the 22nd District 
of California to the conference and then report back to our youth and 
to our community on what they have accomplished. I am proud of them for 
taking the initiative, for making their voices heard on issues that are 
important to them, important to us all.
  As important as our work here is in the capital, we know that the 
real work of reducing violence that surrounds our young people is going 
to come from within the communities themselves. Voices Against Violence 
conference is an excellent step in the right direction. I commend the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) and his staff for their 
leadership in organizing this conference. I look forward to welcoming 
to the capital next week students from the central coast of California 
and from around the country.

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