Eva M. Clayton: “this Saturday, September 16, in Rocky Mount, NC, I am hosting a youth summit. More than 800 young people have already…”

“this Saturday, September 16, in Rocky Mount, NC, I am hosting a youth summit. More than 800 young people have already confirmed that they will attend. They care about the future. These young people are encouraged by past success stories and support for their positive and productive attitudes. Unfortunately, this Congress has given these young people little to be hopeful for. Thousands of Pell grants will be eliminated, the cost of student loans will skyrocket, there will be less funding for Head Start and Healthy start, Goals 2000 will be eliminated, title I will be cut, the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program will be cut and summer jobs are eliminated. The young people who will join me on Saturday are not those who images dominate our perceptions. They are not violent. They are not involved in drug sales. They are the majority. What will I say to these young people? Instead of a bright future, Congress now offers you a bleak future. This blind march to a balanced budget has taken us down the wrong path. I wonder where it is taking our youth? Mr. Speaker, I ask you, what should we say to our youth? What is their future? Mr. Speaker, this is no way to encourage our future.”