[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11831]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as the Burlington, VT, Boys and Girls Club 
prepares to begin an ambitious capital fundraising campaign this 
summer, I am proud to give my strong support to this important 
organization. As a longtime supporter of this organization in Vermont 
and across the country, I wish them the best of success in their 
efforts, and I commend them for striving to continually improve their 
organization and Vermont's communities.
  Through this campaign, the Burlington Boys and Girls Club plans to 
strengthen its resources with the addition of high-speed Internet 
access at the club, as well as a multimedia center where members can 
become proficient in current technology. This is a critical component 
of success for young people in our increasingly technological society. 
The club will also reinforce its dedication to creativity through the 
addition of a visual and performing arts space where members will be 
able to pursue their artistic expression. These are just a few of the 
admirable goals set out for this campaign, and I am confident they will 
be achieved.
  The Boys and Girls Clubs around the country are a leading example of 
how the support and care of our young people benefits American society, 
one boy and one girl at a time. The Boys and Girls Clubs have proven 
that when we show our young people that we care about them and that we 
care about their futures, they respond with positive and constructive 
actions in their communities.
  We also know the Boys and Girls Clubs provide a healthy alternative 
for many young people and oftentimes prevent them from being drawn into 
gangs, drug abuse, and other crime. The clubs instill leadership 
qualities, respect, and thoughtfulness in participants through programs 
that include art, athletics, help with schoolwork, technology, life 
skills, training in resistance to drugs and alcohol, and community 
service. In providing these valuable programs during critical 
development periods when young people are most vulnerable, the Boys and 
Girls Clubs fill a void and reduce the opportunity to succumb to 
negative influences. The Boys and Girls Clubs represent the best of 
what communities can do to improve the lives of their young people.
  I know firsthand how well Boys and Girls Clubs work and what topnotch 
organizations they are. When I was a prosecutor in Vermont, I was 
convinced of the great need for Boys and Girls Clubs because we rarely 
encountered children from these kinds of programs. In fact, after I 
became a U.S. Senator, a police chief was such a big fan that he asked 
me to help fund a Boys and Girls Club in his district rather than 
helping him pay for a couple more police officers.
  Over the years, I have worked with other members of the Senate to 
make sure the Boys and Girls Clubs around the country have the funding 
necessary to carry out their mission. Since 1998, we have worked to 
steadily increase Federal funding for the Boys and Girls clubs each 
year. This year, as the chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary 
Committee, Senator Specter and I have recommended $80 million in 
funding to help keep this organization a strong and vital part of their 
communities, from coast to coast. As a senior member of the 
Appropriations Committee, I look forward to seeing that these funds are 
appropriated for this important work.
  Represented in all 50 States, the 3,700 branches of the Boys and 
Girls Club reach more than 4.4 million young people. The Boys and Girls 
Club of Burlington alone serves more than 1,400 young people each year. 
Through continued funding, Boys and Girls Clubs around the country will 
serve 6 million young people by January of 2007. The growth of these 
clubs across our country has been a true success story, and I am proud 
to work to ensure the Federal Government's continued support.
  As the Burlington Boys and Girls Club kicks off its capital campaign, 
I commend all of Vermont's Boys and Girls Clubs, along with all of the 
other clubs across our Nation, for the important work they do to help 
our young citizens become exceptional adults.

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