[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23621-23623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS OF EFFECTIVE RUNAWAY 
                       YOUTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 484) supporting efforts to promote greater 
awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need 
for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for 
homeless youth.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 484

       Whereas preventing young people from running away and 
     supporting homeless youth and youth in other high-risk 
     situations is a family, community, and national concern;
       Whereas the prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the 
     Nation is staggering, with studies suggesting that between 
     1,600,000 and 2,800,000 young people live on the streets of 
     the United States each year;
       Whereas running away from home is widespread, with 1 out of 
     every 7 children in the United States running away before the 
     age of 18;
       Whereas youth that end up on the streets or in emergency 
     shelters are often those who have been thrown out of their 
     homes by their families; who have been physically, sexually, 
     or emotionally abused at home; who have been discharged by 
     State custodial systems without adequate transition plans; 
     who have lost their parents through death or divorce; and who 
     are too poor to secure their own basic needs;
       Whereas providers of services to runaway and homeless youth 
     are experiencing increased demand for services due to the 
     displacement of youth and families in the aftermath of 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
       Whereas the commemoration of National Runaway Prevention 
     Month will encourage all sectors of society to develop 
     community-based solutions to prevent runaway and homeless 
     episodes among the Nation's youth;
       Whereas effective programs that support runaway and 
     homeless youth and assist young people in remaining at home 
     succeed because of partnerships created among families, 
     community-based human service agencies, law enforcement 
     agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and businesses;
       Whereas the future well-being of the Nation is dependent on 
     the value placed on young people and the opportunities 
     provided for youth to acquire the knowledge, skills, and 
     abilities necessary to develop into safe, healthy, and 
     productive adults;
       Whereas Congress supports an array of community-based 
     support services that address the critical needs of runaway 
     and homeless youth, including family strengthening, street 
     outreach, emergency shelter, and transitional living 
     programs;
       Whereas Congress supports programs that provide crisis 
     intervention and referrals to reconnect runaway and homeless 
     youth to their families and to link young people to local 
     resources that provide positive alternatives to running away; 
     and
       Whereas the purpose of National Runaway Prevention Month in 
     November 2005 is to increase public awareness of the life 
     circumstances of youth in high-risk situations and the need 
     for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports 
     for youth, their families, and their communities: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 
     efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective 
     runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and 
     productive alternatives, resources, and supports for homeless 
     youth and youth in other high-risk situations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 484.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 484, which seeks to 
promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention 
programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, 
and support for youth in high-risk situations. I would like to thank 
the leadership for allowing this resolution to come to the House floor 
as it highlights a very tragic and very important issue.
  Runaway and thrown-away episodes among our Nation's youth are serious 
and widespread, with one of every seven children and youths in the 
United States running away or being turned out of the home before the 
age of 18. A recent study by the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention estimates that nearly 1.7 million youth 
experienced a runaway or thrown-away episode in a single year. The 
prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is astounding, 
with studies suggesting that between 1.6 million and 2.8 million young 
people live on the streets of the United States of America each year.
  The primary factors of running away or being thrown away are severe 
family conflict, abuse, neglect, and parental abuse of alcohol and of 
drugs. In the wake of massive loss of life and property after the 
recent natural disasters, we can expect these numbers to rise. We must 
congratulate service providers for their response to the increased 
numbers of displaced youth as a result of these terrible tragedies.
  In the district I represent in southern Nevada, the statistics are 
similar. In 2003, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported 
4,527 runaways. There were approximately 3,500 children who required 
emergency shelter; 1,800 of these children were placed in foster care. 
In addition to that, the Clark County School District estimates 3,500 
of our students were homeless.
  These astonishing statistics highlight the need for our support of 
those very important programs that seek to prevent these types of 
incidences. Many of the conditions that lead young people to leave or 
be turned out of their homes are preventable through interventions that 
strengthen family and support youth in high-risk situations. Successful 
interventions are grounded in partnerships among families and 
community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, 
schools, faith-based organizations, and the business community.
  The National Network For Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard 
are collaborative since 2002 in cosponsoring National Runaway 
Prevention Month during the month of November. National Runaway 
Prevention Month is a public education initiative aimed at increasing 
the awareness of issues facing runaways, as well as making the public 
aware of role they play in preventing youth from running away.
  As a result of this collaboration, communities across the country 
have

[[Page 23622]]

undertaken a range of activities to commemorate National Runaway 
Prevention Month. Preventing young people from running away and 
supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community, and 
national concern. Please join us in encouraging all Americans to play a 
role in supporting the millions of young people who have run away, who 
are at risk of doing so each year.
  H. Res. 484 supports efforts to promote greater public awareness of 
effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and 
productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk 
situations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 484, in recognition 
of National Runaway Prevention Month. I would like to commend the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for bringing it to the floor.
  The prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in our Nation is 
staggering, with studies suggesting that between 1.6 and 2.8 million 
young people live on the streets of the United States each year. Each 
year roughly 5,000 of these troubled young people die from assault, 
illness, and in some cases from suicide. In my home State of Texas, 
more than 100,000 young people ages 7 through 17 run away from home 
each year. It is literally a matter of life and death that we raise 
awareness and do everything in our power to prevent runaways.
  In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the system of 
support for runaway and homeless youths is being stretched to the 
limit. This is especially true in Texas where many of the victims of 
these terrible storms have sought refuge.
  National Runaway Prevention Month is a time to encourage the 
development of community-based solutions to prevent runaway and 
homeless episodes among our Nation's youths. More importantly, it is a 
time to draw attention to the need for resources to combat this 
problem.
  During National Runaway Prevention Month, the National Runaway 
Switchboard and the National Network For Youth seek to raise community 
member awareness of the widespread nature of runaway situations and the 
importance of strengthening families and engaging their involvement in 
crisis intervention communities.
  In Texas, our hotline started in 1973 as Operation Peace of Mind 
after the devastating discovery of 27 young men, many runaways, who 
were brutally murdered. Today, our hotline operates 24 hours a day and 
provides critical services which include the following:
  Crisis intervention and counseling; information and referrals for 
callers seeking food, shelter and transportation home; confidential 
conference calls between youth and their families; and, yes, it 
provides a message service to promote communication between runaways 
and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, runaways are the Nation's most vulnerable youth. We must 
be united in helping them find a safe, healthy, and productive place 
where they can fulfill their potential. I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. 
McCollum).
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, today we will vote on a 
resolution in support of preventive programs; yet this Congress 
continues to underfund the critical resources needed to address the 
problems faced by these vulnerable youth.
  Homelessness is merely a symptom of a bigger problem. For many youth, 
their home situation is violent and it is unhealthy. The Wilder 
Foundation, a nonprofit health and human service organization that has 
served the greater St. Paul area since 1906, understands this issue 
well. They tell us that children who run away are three times more 
likely to have been physically abused, five times more likely to have 
been treated for drug and alcohol problems. These young adults need our 
help, they need our support, and they need the opportunity to know that 
they can get their lives back on track. And there are many in our 
community and across this country who are ready to serve homeless 
youths.
  In Minnesota there are groups such as the Ain Dah Yung Center, 
serving Native American youths; the Bridge For Runaway Youth, and they 
are working hard to provide critical services.
  When I visited one of the homeless shelters for youth just recently, 
I found out that they had to cut their hours back, that they could not 
provide a safe haven for children to escape the cold during the day and 
to get counseling, to reunite them with their families when possible or 
to put them in a place where they would be safe. These children need 
our assistance. They need a partner at the Federal level, one that they 
can count on, not only for well-intentioned resolutions but the dollars 
needed to provide those resources, those safe havens, especially as 
winter sets in on these young adults in Minnesota.
  They need resources. They need beds. They need counselors. But most 
of all they need to know, our children need to know that Congress is 
prepared to vote for them and to approve not only this resolution but 
in the future the resources needed in order for them to turn their 
lives around.
  Our children deserve our hope for a better future for them, and they 
deserve an opportunity to have that future.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my good friend and 
colleague from the great State of Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all thank the 
gentleman from Texas for yielding me time. I also want to commend my 
colleague from Nevada for bringing this important matter before us 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as a strong supporter of H. Res. 484. Studies 
indicate that a staggering between 1.8 and 2.6 million children live on 
the streets of our country each and every year. This legislation in a 
way honors the individuals and organizations who work so hard to reach 
out to our young people that are in some of the most desperate of 
situations.
  As we can all imagine, the situation on the streets for these young 
people is desperate and incredibly rough. Half of the HIV cases in the 
United States are in the youth population. Homeless and runaway youth 
are two to 10 times higher than the nonhomeless teens who have HIV, and 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 94 percent 
of homeless youth are sexually active. We, unfortunately, cannot make 
street life disappear or even reach a level of utopia; but we can 
ensure that there are services available to help with the daily lives 
of these young people, whether it is trying to find a bed, a warm meal, 
or some safe, genuine companionship.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation. In a large urban district 
like mine where there are thousands of impoverished young people living 
in less than desirable home situations, we know that they need help. 
And I commend some of the many organizations like the Night Ministry, 
Tabitha House, Hope House, the House of Daniel, Clare's House, Mother's 
House, and all of the other programs that are designed to assist young 
people as they go through this stage of their lives.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 484, a 
resolution introduced by our colleague from Nevada, Mr. Porter, to 
recognize the value of runaway youth prevention programs and the needs 
of homeless and at-risk youth. Our consideration of this resolution 
today is timely given that October is recognized as National Runaway 
Prevention Month.
  In my district, we have benefited greatly from the development and 
implementation of several runaway youth prevention programs. These 
programs have proven their effectiveness with increasing support from 
various members of our community. They have been built with support 
from families, parents, teachers, social workers, counselors, 
ministers, and other civic-minded citizens in our community. They have 
also been supplemented with important grant assistance from both the 
local

[[Page 23623]]

and federal government. Their effectiveness is worth promoting and 
increasing awareness of the needs of our homeless and at-risk youth is 
an important undertaking.
  I take this opportunity to share the story of just one particular 
organization in Guam that has grown to fulfill these needs of Guam's 
homeless and at-risk youth. As a member of the National Network for 
Youth, Sanctuary, Inc. has developed and sponsored many important 
programs serving our homeless and at-risk youth. Sanctuary, Inc. works 
in close collaboration with the Department of Youth Affairs of the 
Government of Guam as well as with the judicial system and the courts 
to identify ways to support our youth.
  Through workshops, counseling, referral services, support groups, and 
especially with their annual summer parent-child conference, Sanctuary, 
Inc. works to strengthen family relationships and promotes a drug, 
alcohol and violence-free lifestyle among youth participants. Their 
after-school programs are especially effective in providing activities 
for our youth and complementing their classroom instruction. Apart from 
their programs, Sanctuary operates two temporary emergency shelters to 
accommodate our homeless youth, providing them with room and board and 
a family away from home.
  I commend Sanctuary, Inc. for their outstanding work and their 
positive influence on our at-risk youth and their families. I urge my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 484. I too urge all of us to work 
together to increase awareness of effective runaway youth prevention 
programs. Through these proven community-based programs we can help 
provide for a safer and more educational environment for our at-risk 
youth.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 484, 
a resolution which supports efforts to promote greater awareness of 
effective prevention programs for youth at-risk of running away from 
home and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and 
supports for homeless youth. The resolution also commemorates National 
Runaway Prevention Month.
  The statistics of runaway and homeless youth are staggering: 1.6 
million youth are on the streets every day; more than 1,200 youth run 
away from home each day; and 1 out of every 7 children in the United 
States runs away from home before the age of 18. It's not easy being a 
kid today. The decisions and concerns confronting kids today are 
tougher than ever: peer pressure, drug/alcohol abuse, and more. Some 
face pregnancy or AIDS. Many more are experiencing violence in the 
streets, at home, and in the classroom.
  For the estimated 1.6 million kids living on the street, these 
dilemmas may be especially difficult because there is all too often no 
one to talk to. These youth thought they could escape their problems by 
running away, only to encounter even more problems.
  That is why I support the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS)'s 
mission which serves as the federally-designated national communication 
system for homeless and runaway youth. While its national headquarters 
is in my district in Chicago, NRS provides services to youth and 
families across the country. Without organizations such as the National 
Runaway Switchboard, over a million youth each year would have nowhere 
to turn during a time of crisis. Established in 1971, NRS is recognized 
as the oldest hotline in the world. With the support of more than 150 
volunteers, NRS handled over 111,000 calls last year and more than 3 
million calls in its 34-year history. NRS provides crisis intervention, 
referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to 
youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a 
day, 365 days a year. Over 10,000 youth have been reunited with their 
families through the NRS Home Free program.
  On April 18, 2005, I joined Executive Director, Maureen Blaha, at NRS 
headquarters to unveil NRS's new 800 number, 1-800-RUNAWAY to the 
American public. NRS also announced the establishment of a new web 
site, www.1800RUNAWAY.org to match its new signature 800 number. These 
new initiatives are intended to provide vulnerable and at-risk youth 
with an easy name and number to remember when they are experiencing 
crisis and looking for help. The NRS hopes to offer its services to 
more and more youth with the rollout of 1-800-RUNAWAY.
  Now is the time to protect the vulnerable and support our youth. 
Tomorrow's leaders are running away from homes and falling into a life 
of uncertainty, violence, and crime. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
this fight to save tomorrow's leaders; vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 484.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 484.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________