[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7045]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   VIOLENCE AMONG OUR YOUTH, AND THE INCIDENT IN LITTLETON, COLORADO

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard my colleagues 
rising to the Floor of the House, I, too, stand with a heavy heart to 
offer my sympathy and concern to the families of the deceased, to the 
children, to the students, to all who have been impacted by yesterday's 
tragic incident in Littleton, Colorado. We are shocked by the sheer 
randomness of it.
  We realize that our schools in America should be safe places for our 
children to learn, and we are disturbed that these shootings were out 
of revenge, and because someone made fun of these young people.
  Let us now not point the finger of blame, but let the people of 
America like and organizations like the National Rifle Association, 
children's advocacy groups, churches, synagogues, and parishes, let us 
look to solutions such as more health services for juveniles. Two-
thirds of our children in America are denied real mental health 
counseling services when they need it. Let us, on Friday, April 23, 
1999, Children's Memorial Day, commemorate the thousands of children 
and youth who are killed by violence.
  As one who works with the Congressional Children's Caucus and chairs 
it, I ask that all of the caucuses in this House that are concerned 
about children gather for one meeting to begin a real agenda that deals 
with safety in schools, getting mental health services to our children, 
counseling to the families, and stop the blame game.
  This is an American crisis. We must heal our Nation. To the people of 
Littleton, Colorado, my prayers are with you.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand today with a heavy heart to talk about the 
tragic incidents of yesterday in Littleton, Colorado. First of all, I 
would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims 
of yesterday's horrific shootings.
  Along with being shocked by the sheer randomness and senselessness of 
the violence yesterday, I am dismayed by the string of violent 
incidents that have occurred in our schools within the past 18 months.
  The statistics on adolescent death trends are startling: homicide 
deaths for teenagers between 15-19 accounted for 85 percent or 2,457 
deaths by firearms and suicide rates have increased by more than 300 
percent in the last three decades. In yesterday's shootings, more than 
20 people were killed including the two suspects who killed themselves.
  Schools should be safe and secure places for all students, teachers 
and staff members. All children should be able to go to and from school 
without fear for their safety.
  According to news reports, these young suspects were outcasts in the 
school community. During the shooting, the suspects reportedly said 
that they were ``out for revenge'' for having been made fun of last 
year. This is truly a cry for help that was not heard in time.
  This incident underscores the urgent need for mental health services 
to address the needs of young people like the suspects from yesterday. 
Without concerted efforts to address the mental health disorders that 
affect our children, we may witness more terrifying violence in our 
schools.
  Friday, April 23, 1999 is Children's Memorial Day to commemorate the 
thousands of children and youth who are killed by violence each year. 
On that day, the governors of every state have been asked to fly the 
Children's Memorial Flag.
  As chair of the Children's Caucus, I would like to urge my Colleagues 
to remember Friday as a national day to honor children whose lives have 
been cut short by violence. I also ask that we pray for the families 
who have been devastated by the violence of Monday.

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