[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14143]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HELPING DISADVANTAGED YOUTHS

  (Mr. OSBORNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday H.R. 4703 was introduced in 
response to a report issued by the White House Task Force for 
Disadvantaged Youth. The findings of the study are as follows:
  Number one, 10 million American teens are plagued by poverty, abuse 
and neglect, academic failure and substance abuse.
  Number two, the Federal Government has created 355 programs to serve 
youth in response to these deficits and afflictions. The result has 
been chaotic. Two-thirds of the programs evaluated by OMB were rated 
ineffective or redundant.
  This bill would create a Federal Youth Development Council. The 
Council is charged with, number one, improving and coordinating youth-
serving programs; number two, issuing an annual report on youth 
programs and their effectiveness; and, number three, setting 
quantifiable goals and developing a plan for each program.
  This legislation will allow more children in need to be served more 
effectively. It is supported by an overwhelming majority of youth 
agencies. I urge support of H.R. 4703.

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