[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9173-9174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               BECOME A PART OF THE ``I WILL'' FOUNDATION

  (Mr. TANCREDO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, the issue I want to rise today to discuss 
is actually to draw attention to a couple of people in my district. I 
represent the area that includes Columbine High School in which we had 
such a tragic event a short time ago.
  We keep talking about what we can do to stop something like this from 
happening again. Eventually, it all gets down to changing people's 
hearts. That is really all that can happen. But there is something that 
is going on that can work in that direction, and I want to draw 
attention to it.
  Two teachers, one Mary Catherine Bradshaw in Hillsboro High School in 
Nashville, and Heather Beck, a teacher at Green Mountain High School in 
Colorado, and also a student, Rebecca Hunter, they have created a 
pledge, a pledge which I will enter into the record, a pledge they ask 
each student to take.

[[Page 9174]]

  It says: As a part of the blank community, I will pledge to be a part 
of the solution. I will eliminate taunting from my own behavior. I will 
encourage others to do the same. I will do my part to make my school a 
safe place by being more sensitive to others. I will set the example of 
a caring individual. I will not let my word or actions hurt others. I 
will become a part of the solution.
  This is the real way to address it.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record:

       Please print this out and sign this petition.
       As a part of the __________ Community, I will . . .
       I will pledge to be a part of the solution.
       I will eliminate taunting from my own behavior.
       I will encourage others to do the same.
       I will do my part to make __________ a safe place by being 
     more sensitive to others.
       I will set the example of a caring individual.
       I will not let my word or actions hurt others.
       . . . and if others won't become a part of the solution, I 
     will.
       Signing here reflects your commitment to your pledge 
     through graduation 1999.
       _____________
       _____________

                          ____________________