Political Quotes

“This motion to recommit will strengthen and improve the Public Lands Service Corps program by ensuring it is focused on defined, priority activities and by adding safeguards against misuse of program funds. There are four clear and simple parts to this motion: First is an important provision that will protect the young men and women in the program from being subjected to registered sex offenders. People as young as 16 years of age are eligible to participate; and for many, a summer job with a Public Lands Corps project will be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. That is why this motion to recommit would require criminal background checks for the adults in the program who come in contact with the minors and would bar registered sex offenders from supervising these young people. The protections included in this motion are taken directly from those in the AmeriCorps program that we just passed in this Congress a year ago. Sex offenders should not be placed in positions of authority over, or be allowed access to, young people in the Public Lands Corps, just as they are prohibited in AmeriCorps. By voting for this motion to recommit, you will prohibit sex offenders from participating in this program and will be voting to provide basic protections for young people.”