[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4296-4297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 309 and 
that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 309) designating the week beginning 
     March 14, 2004, as ``National Safe Place Week''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 309) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 309

       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 ``safe places'' at neighborhood locations where 
     trained volunteers are available to counsel and advise youth 
     seeking assistance and guidance;
       Whereas the Safe Place Program combines the efforts of the 
     private sector and nonprofit organizations uniting to reach 
     youth in the early stages of crisis;

[[Page 4297]]

       Whereas the Safe Place Program provides a direct way to 
     assist programs in meeting performance standards relative to 
     outreach and 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 more than 700 communities in 42 States and more 
     than 14,000 locations have established Safe Place Programs;
       Whereas more than 68,000 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 14 through March 20, 2004, 
     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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