Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
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By Mr. DEWINE (for himself, Mr. SPECTER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. KERRY, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. DODD, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. LIEBERMAN):
S. 2704. A bill to revise and extend the National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Specter, Feinstein, Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Schumer, Nelson of Florida, Menendez, Dodd, Kennedy, Lautenberg, Durbin, and Lieberman to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Police Athletic/Activities League, better known as PAL. These local youth crime prevention programs, run by police officers nationwide, provide after-school educational, athletic, and recreational opportunities for the communities they serve.
The first PAL chapter was founded in the 1910s in New York. The growth since then has been tremendous, and there are now over 330 PAL chapters in 38 States, DC, the Virgin Islands, Canada, and Nigeria, serving approximately 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 18. In my own home State of Ohio, we are fortunate enough to have 28 of these outstanding organizations.
Studies conducted in Eastlake, OH, and Portland, OR, have shown a substantial drop in the juvenile crime rate in those two cities upon the creation of a PAL chapter. These chapters make a point to serve those most in need. For example, 50 percent of the kids involved in the 28 Ohio chapters come from families with a median income of less than $20,000.
PAL chapters provide kids with a wide range of activities. One chapter in Ohio, for instance--the Chillicothe-Ross County Police Athletic League--has offered dances, films, rap contests, and programs in archery, art, basketball, bowling, boxing, computers, cooking, CPR, fishing, fitness, lacrosse, nutrition, paint ball, running, tumbling, volleyball, and weightlifting. Other chapters around the country have offered programs like chess, flag football, junior golf, homework clubs and hydroponic gardening. In addition--through their Youth Leadership Council--PALs provide a setting for kids to learn important skills to assist them in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
But, the Police Athletic/Activities League does more than merely provide after-school activities to kids who may not otherwise have access to tutoring or athletic facilities. PAL provides them with mentors and positive role models. In addition, PAL programs help teach kids that their relationship with law enforcement need not be one that is ``us vs. them;'' instead, to quote National PAL, itself, the relationship can be one of ``cops and kids together--providing solutions through sports and education.''
The money provided by this reauthorization bill would enable PAL programs to continue their current programs and also expand--at a rate of 50 chapters per year--into areas where kids can truly benefit from the good work of the PAL.
The PAL has been a success for over 90 years, and the Senate consistently has supported this outstanding organization. We passed the National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 by unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to continue to support the PAL with this reauthorization.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2704
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