[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 SAVE-A-FRIEND NATIONAL HOTLINE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today concerning the 
Save-A-Friend national hotline program. The need for a national school 
violence hotline to help prevent tragedies in our nation's schools is 
extremely pressing. These senseless acts of violence against children 
must be stopped. While hotlines at the state and local level are 
useful, a national hotline must be implemented in order to better 
combat the problem of school violence.
  I am pleased that the concept of Save-A-Friend has been supported by 
so many and I plan on making a request to the United States Department 
of Justice recommending a total of $500,000 in grant funding for the 
study and preliminary design of a Save-A-Friend National Hotline 
Program. This hotline should be staffed by trained professionals, 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, and ensure timely interaction between 
schools, local police organizations, the FBI and other federal law 
enforcement agencies. My request will ask the Department of Justice to 
report back its plan and budget to implement such a program on a 
national basis next year. This report will be submitted before the 
Fiscal Year 2003 budget process.

                          ____________________