Chris Dodd: “I rise to recognize today as Lights On After School! Day. Lights On After School! is a project of the Afterschool…”

“I rise to recognize today as Lights On After School! Day. Lights On After School! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance to open the doors of after-school programs around the country to neighbors, community leaders, and the media so that everyone understands the importance of after-school programs to providing children of working parents with a safe place to be until their parents are home and providing all children with cultural and academic opportunities. Last year, more than 400,000 people participated in Lights On After School! events and I hope that even more will participate this year. I have been a longtime supporter of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides federal support for local after-school centers. For years, I have worked hard, as have many others, including Senator Jeffords and Senator Boxer, to increase support for these centers. And, with the appropriation having grown from $750,000 in fiscal year 1995 to $1 billion in fiscal year 2002, I think we've been phenomenally successful. I'm very disappointed that the President wants to freeze support for these programs, but I'm pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee's education appropriations bill increases funding for fiscal year 2003 by $90 million. I hope that we can do even better in the end. I can think of few programs with as wide-ranging support as these centers.”