Eva M. Clayton: “I received some truly frightening news this week, news that threatens the very core of America's future. In my home…”

“I received some truly frightening news this week, news that threatens the very core of America's future. In my home State of North Carolina, it was revealed that the lives of our children have grown more and more treacherous over the last 5 years. Today in North Carolina, it is dangerous to be a child. Listen, as I sound out the disgraceful statistics. Each day in North Carolina, 3 babies die, 88 children are abused or neglected, 43 teenagers become pregnant, and 40 young people drop out of school. In the four measures of social welfare--health, education, safety, and security--we have failed our children miserably. In the last year alone, poverty among children increased 16 percent, the dropout rate rose 10 percent; crime rates are up and so are arrests among juvenile offenders. Mr. Speaker, this disgraceful situation is not limited to my State of North Carolina, it is a national tragedy. We cannot afford to lose this, our most valuable resource. Let us commit ourselves today, to public policies that will rescue our children from these mean circumstances.”