Edolphus Towns: “Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 227, as amended, a concurrent resolution that…”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 227, as amended, a concurrent resolution that designates the second week of February as National Urban Crime Awareness Week. This occasion provides an opportunity to shed light on the volatile issues affecting people within urban communities. In September 2009, 133 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates above the national average. As a result of the economic downturn, many of our Nation's urban communities are experiencing a substantial growth in crime, which has been directly linked to increased unemployment rates. In other words, there is a definite correlation between unemployment and crime. Madam Speaker, in 2008, there were an estimated 1,382,000 violent crimes that occurred nationwide. In New York, approximately 48,430 violent crimes took place, compared to 28,941 reported cases in non-New York City counties. Over 60 percent of the Nation's youth have been exposed to violence in the past year. This exposure adversely affects their physical and mental health and long-term functioning into adulthood, and can force youth into gangs where they are more likely to perpetuate additional acts of violence. This resolution seeks to properly acknowledge the men, women, and children who have been victims of violence in urban communities.”