Patrick Leahy: “I am pleased that Senator Hatch has now decided to join with me in including on this measure an amendment that will…”

“I am pleased that Senator Hatch has now decided to join with me in including on this measure an amendment that will reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act for five years. This amendment complements Senator Hatch's bill to authorize the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, S.2073, because it provides additional assistance to some of the most vulnerable children in our country--children and teenagers who have run away or become homeless. In 1996, I introduced legislation with Senator Simon similar to this amendment. Unfortunately, that bill was never passed by the Judiciary Committee and so the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act has not been authorized for over two years. I think it is time for the Senate to remedy this situation and that is why I proposed this amendment to Senator Hatch's bill. I had also hoped to reauthorize the Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs, commonly known as the Title V program, as well as two anti-drug abuse programs for runaway and homeless youth and gang-affiliated teenagers. But, due to objections from the Republican side of the aisle, I have not been able to include reauthorization for those worthwhile programs in this amendment. That is unfortunate. As a former prosecutor I know these programs could cut drug abuse.”