[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 2889-2890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
218, and that the Senate immediately proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 218) designating the week beginning 
     March 17, 2002, as National Safe Place Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid on the table, and that any statements regarding the matter be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 218) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 218

       Whereas today's youth are vital to the preservation of our 
     country and will be the future bearers of the bright torch of 
     democracy;
       Whereas youth need a safe haven from various negative 
     influences such as child abuse, substance abuse and crime, 
     and they need to have resources readily available to assist 
     them when faced with circumstances that compromise their 
     safety;
       Whereas the United States needs increased numbers of 
     community volunteers acting as positive influences on the 
     Nation's youth;
       Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting 
     our Nation's most valuable asset, our youth, by offering 
     short term

[[Page 2890]]

     ``safe places'' at neighborhood locations where trained 
     volunteers are available to counsel and advise youth seeking 
     assistance and guidance;
       Whereas Safe Place combines the efforts of the private 
     sector and non-profit organizations uniting to reach youth in 
     the early stages of crisis;
       Whereas Safe Place provides a direct means to assist 
     programs in meeting performance standards relative to 
     outreach/community relations, as set forth in the Federal 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act guidelines;
       Whereas the Safe Place placard displayed at businesses 
     within communities stands as a beacon of safety and refuge to 
     at-risk youth;
       Whereas over 641 communities in 39 states and more than 
     11,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas over 53,000 young people have gone to Safe Place 
     locations to get help when faced with crisis situations;
       Whereas through the efforts of Safe Place coordinators 
     across the country each year more than one-half million 
     students learn that Safe Place is a resource if abusive or 
     neglectful situations exist; and
       Whereas increased awareness of the program's existence will 
     encourage communities to establish Safe Places for the 
     Nation's youth throughout the country: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) proclaims the week of March 17 through March 23, 2002 
     as ``National Safe Place Week'' and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to promote awareness of and volunteer involvement in 
     the Safe Place programs, and to observe the week with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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