Edward M. Kennedy: “I also commend our friend and colleague from Illinois. I had an opportunity to spend an afternoon with those law…”

“I also commend our friend and colleague from Illinois. I had an opportunity to spend an afternoon with those law enforcement individuals in Boston who are assigned to the gangs. They were very strong in their commitment to deal with those individual members of the gangs that were difficult and violent, and had that proclivity. But they were also equally supportive of trying to intervene with this kind of program so individuals would have alternatives to gang violence. It is completely consistent with what has been accepted in the Senate in the omnibus crime bill. I commend the Senator for bringing this up. All of us understand we do not utilize our schools, whether they are in the urban or rural community, nearly to the extent we should with the range of activities. This is a demonstrated successful program, and I thank her for these additions. Hopefully, we will have an acceptance of the amendment.”