[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23701-23702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              TRIBUTE TO MS. LAURA J. CLARK OF DOTHAN, AL

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Ms. Laura J. Clark and 
her mother for sharing their extraordinary talent with the Children's 
Advocacy Centers. These ladies have gone to great lengths to fight 
child abuse. They have turned the misery and shame of child abuse into 
a beautiful song. Through music, they are reaching out to abused 
children and adults who were abused as children.
  Ms. Clark and her mother are donating the profits of the compact disc 
and tape sales to the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center.
  Mr. Speaker, I enter into the Congressional Record the lyrics to 
``For the Children'' so that others might have the opportunity read 
these words and find comfort in the song's message.

  For the Children (Music and Lyrics by Jo Johnson, Arranged by Buddy 
                                Skipper)

I need a safety blanket, I need a secret place to hide
I need someone to listen to me when I tell them I hurt inside

I have nightmares in the daytime then I cry myself to sleep
Where's an angle to watch over me when I pray ``my soul to keep''?

I know you can't believe it, our stories break your heart in two
I know you can never see it but it's happening yes it's happening 
    believe us it's true

We've got to make it right for the children
Got to give them hope and heal their broken hearts

We've got to make it right for the children

[[Page 23702]]

Let them learn of love instead of hate and ask them to forgive us 
    because we're so late

We've got to take despair from the children
Got to let them know how much we care

We've got to make it right for the children
And with God's help we'll do the right thing we'll open up our arms

Yes with God's help we'll do the right thing and make sure that the 
    children will come to no more harm

We've got to make it right for the children
Got to give them hope and heal their broken hearts

We've got to make it right for the children
For the children
We will make it right.

                          ____________________