Frank Lautenberg: “I will support it because I think it is a terrific amendment. I commend the distinguished Senator from California for…”

“I will support it because I think it is a terrific amendment. I commend the distinguished Senator from California for her leadership. Too many kids spend more of their waking hours without supervision, without constructive activity, and it is only in school that they are able to have some supervision that makes sense. As many as 5 million kids are home alone after school each week. The prospect of a child alone without proper supervision is sometimes too grim to even think about when we think about those who would molest them, those who would invade the privacy of the home, those kids who might get their hands on a weapon. We have seen what happens there. I want to see that this amendment carries. It puts things in proper focus. We talk here constantly about children and about how important they are in our lives and what it means to every one of us. Anybody who has been a parent, a grandparent, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle, knows about the relationships that children need and require in terms of their growth and development. So I support the amendment of the Senator from California. We want to make sure there are quality after-school programs. The kids who do have good programs can do better in their schoolwork, get along better with their peers. I think it is a great amendment, and I want to see it pass even modestly if it passes. It doesn't have to be overwhelming.”