[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 70--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 16, 2003 AS 
                      ``NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK''

  Mr. CRAIG (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

       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 committee to protecting 
     our Nation's most valuable asset, our youth, by offering 
     short term ``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 655 communities in 41 states and more than 
     11,000 locations have established Safe Place programs;
       Whereas over 61,000 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 county each year more than one-half million 
     students learn that Safe Place is a resource if abusive or 
     neglectful situations exist;
       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 16 through March 23, 2003 
     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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