Date: 1997-09-10
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Chairman. this amendment doubles the $40 million provided lor prevention and intervention programs for children and youth who are neglected and delinquent or at risk of dropping out by transferring $40 million from the Goals 2000 Program. This formula grant program provides services to participants in institutions for juvenile delinquents. correctional institutions. and institutions for the neglected. The bill calls for $39.311.600. which is about a little over a million less than the budget request and the same as fiscal year 1997. Arrest rates for juveniles have more than tripled in the last decade. The average stay in youth correction facilities is about 1 year for crimes against persons. 248 days for drug offenses. and 17 days for weapons crimes. The total number- of juveniles arrested that are undler the age of 18 rose 20.1 percent between 1991 and 1995. The need for education is growing. Giving incarcerated juveniles an education is something that liberals and conservatives can both agree on and understand that it benefits children and the public. Juvenile crime has increased significantly over the last few years and represents an alarming and tragic trend. A good education is one of the few things that can help children out of a life of crime and despair and give them the tools to live a productive and happy life. Without education. these children remain without hope. High school dropouts similarly need special consideration since they are all but doomed to a life of poverty. The needed money that this amendment represents will go to State programs to prevent atrisk children from dropping out. The amendment would take money out of the hands of a program that is totally administrative and put it into the hands of vulnerable children and their teachers specifically but directly to assist vulnerable children. The Government has asked for $475 million for the Goals 2000 Program but only $40 million for these atrisk children. The $40 million increase that we are proposing in this amendment will show in a more direct and a more positive way our commitment to these children. In my State. 1.165 children are served in various State programs at the State level and local level that these funds are directed to. Thats just in my State as an example. The amendment. of course. applies nationally. These funds are distributed to State and local programs. These are local dollars that we would be empowering. State grants go directly to the facilities where these children are taught and into homes for delinquent and abandoned or neglected children. They are used to hire teachers. provide supplementary education for children who are not achieving at their grade -level and who are failing to meet State standards in academic areas. and those who are targeted as at great risk of dropping out. Funds are. and what has been known as the title I program. that is the shift we are attempting to make. Mr. Chairman. let me just state again that with respect to children who are at risk. those at risk of dropping out of school because of the economic setting or situation that they may be in or any other conditions that may lead to that particular designation are worthy of our attention here in Congress and States. I would submit. are most capable of assisting them. These dollars just support States and local communities. people who know what they are doing and have achieved real results. One of the individuals back in my home State in the Department of Education commented that this particular area in education is the most neglected area of assisting children in our education system and could use not only the dollars that the small amount that we are proposing in the amendment but far beyond that. I think the $40 million shift is a reasonable amount. one which I suspect will be supported widely and is greatly anticipated not only by the young children who deserve our thought and consideration. our support and help. but those who are committed to them. their teachers. parents in many cases. and those who are also dedicated to improving the lives of children back in our home States.