Dale Kildee: “my amendment to the substitute offered by the gentleman from New York is meant to protect a program of special interest…”

“my amendment to the substitute offered by the gentleman from New York is meant to protect a program of special interest to many Members in the House, including this Member. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program, commonly called DARE, has proven to be one of the best methods yet devised for preventing drug abuse and drug use among young people. My amendment continues the policy of current law. It sets aside a specific 10 percent of any funds appropriated for the use of Governors for the DARE Program. DARE does work, Mr. Chairman. The DARE Program brings police officers into classrooms and school settings to work with students in grades K through 6. Those officers become teachers and counselors educating students in the physical, mental, and societal dangers of drug use. Officers teach young people how to recognize drugs and to avoid peer pressure and dangerous situations. DARE goes beyond just say ``no.'' DARE teaches young people how to say ``no'' and make it stick. DARE programs create positive relations between law enforcement officials and children in an environment children already find safe and friendly, the school. DARE has been shown to have positive effects beyond the boundaries of the school and into the neighborhood. I have seen the DARE Program work in my district. The people are very supportive of it. The police officers, the teachers, the parents all say it is a program that really works.”