[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, we know that before-school, after-school, 
and summer learning programs are successful activities that provide 
safe places that millions of students and parents can rely upon.
  I'm very concerned about keeping the students in my district safe and 
out of trouble. In mid-Michigan and around the Nation, time spent out 
of school is often prime time for bad choices that can lead to juvenile 
crime; yet countless studies have shown that kids involved in after-
school and summer programs are less likely to be perpetrators or 
victims of crime, less likely to drink or use drugs, less likely to 
join gangs.
  Unfortunately, legislation that is set to be considered this week in 
the House could lead to over a million students losing access to these 
opportunities. Students in Michigan benefit from these after-school 
programs through mentors, tutoring, through cultural and fine arts 
activities.
  We should be expanding support for these programs and for funding for 
these programs, not cutting them or putting them in block grants as a 
means of reducing support.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this legislation that's 
set to come before the House this week.

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