Political Quotes

“I rise to introduce the After School Education and Safety Act of 1997. This bill creates after school enrichment programs for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school-aged students. Today's youth face far greater social risks than did their parents and grandparents. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at risk of committing violent acts and being victims of violent crimes between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.--a time when they are not in school. My bill will help schools expand their capacity to address the needs of school-aged children between these critical hours. Since juvenile crime peeks at the close of the schoolday--we need to give children a safe and supervised place where they can use those hours to their best advantage. Education is a key component of success. This bill seeks to increase the academic success of students while working to improve their intellectual, social, physical, and cultural skills. For older students, programs will be available to prepare them for work force participation. Schools receiving grants under the act must provide at least two of the following programs: Mentoring, academic assistance, recreational activities, or technology training. It is critical that we work with our Nation's children during their school years to create strong foundations in academics, technology, and other fields which will carry them into adulthood.”