[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 24, 2002

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, by the year 2030, the number of young people 
between 15 and 24 is projected to reach 1.2 billion, signifying a 17 
percent increase in population worldwide. In many parts of the 
developing world, almost half of all girls under 18 are married and 
child-bearing, despite the fact that children born to women younger 
than age 20 are one and half times more likely to die before their 
first birthday than those born to mothers between ages 20 and 29.
  We must, therefore, recognize the problems associated with rapid 
population growth among young people. Governor Angus King of Maine has 
proclaimed the week of October 20-26th of this year as World Population 
Awareness Week, and I would like to support Governor King in this 
effort by entering his proclamation into the Congressional Record.


       Whereas, more than one billion people--one sixth of the 
     world's population--are between the ages of 15 and 24, the 
     largest generation ever in this age bracket; and
       Whereas, nearly half of the world's population, and 63% in 
     the least developed countries, is under the age 25; and
       Whereas, 17 million young women between the ages of 15-19 
     give birth every year, including some 13 million who live in 
     less developed countries; and
       Whereas, early pregnancy and childbearing is associated 
     with serious health risks; and
       Whereas, the choices young people make today regarding 
     their reproductive lives will determine whether the world 
     population stabilizes or continues to grow,
       Now, Therefore, I, Angus S. King, Jr., Governor of the 
     State of Maine, do hereby proclaim October 20th-26th, 2002 as 
     Population Awareness Week throughout the State of Maine.

     

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