INTRODUCTION OF THE YOUNGER AMERICANS ACT
SEN. JAMES JEFFORDS (June 7, 2001)

From the Congressional Record

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, today I join with Senators STEVENS, KENNEDY,
CLELAND, and DODD to introduce the Younger American's Act. We launched this
effort at the end of the last Congress, with the help of General Colin
Powell. This legislation embraces the belief that youth are our Nation's
most important responsibility and that their needs must be moved to a higher
priority on our Nation's agenda.

It is not enough that government responds to youth when they get into
trouble with drugs, teen pregnancy, and violence. We need to strengthen the
positive rather than simply respond to the negative. Positive youth
development, the framework for the Younger American's Act, is not just about
preventing bad things from happening, but giving a nudge to help good things
happen. And we know that it works.

Evaluations of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, mentoring,
and other youth development programs have consistently demonstrated how well
these programs work. These programs lead to significant increases in
parental involvement, youth participation in constructive education, social
and recreation activities, enrollment in post-secondary education, and
community involvement. Just as important, youth actively participating in
youth development programs show decreased rates of school failure and
absenteeism, teen pregnancy, delinquency, substance abuse, and violent
behavior.

We also know that risk taking behavior increases with age. One-third of
the high school juniors and seniors participate in two or more health risk
behaviors. That is why it is important to build a youth development
infrastructure that engages youth as they enter pre-adolescence and keeps
them engaged throughout their teen years. The Younger American's Act is
targeted to youth aged 10 to 19. This encompasses both the critical
middle-school years, as well as the increasingly risky high school years.

The Younger American's Act is about creating a national policy on youth.
Up until now, government has responded to kids after they have gotten into
trouble. We must take a new tack. Instead of just treating problems, we have
to promote healthy development. We have to remember that just because a kid
stays out of trouble, it doesn't mean that he or she is ready to handle the
responsibilities of adulthood. Kids want direction, they want close bonds
with parents and other adult mentors. And I believe we owe them that.
Ideally, this comes from strong families, but communities and government can
help.

In order to keep kids engaged in positive activities, youth must be
viewed as resources; as active participants in finding solutions to their
own problems. Parents also must be part of those solutions. This legislation
requires that youth and parents be part of the decision-making process.

The United States does not have a cohesive federal policy on youth.
Creating an Office on National Youth Policy within the White House not only
raises the priority of youth on the Federal agenda, but provides an
opportunity to more effectively coordinate existing Federal youth programs
to increase their impact on the lives of young Americans. The efforts of the Office of National Youth Policy in advocating for the needs of youth, and the Department of Health and Human
Services in implementing the Younger American's Act will be helped by the
Council on National Youth Policy. This Council, comprised of youth, parents,
experts in youth development, and representatives from the business
community, will help ensure that this initiative continually responds to the
changing needs of youth and their communities. It will bring a ``real
world'' perspective to the Federal efforts.The Younger American's Act provides communities with the fundingnecessary to adequately ensure that youth have access to five core
resources: ongoing relationships with caring adults; safe places with
structured activities in which to grow and learn; services that promote
healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve physical and mental
health; opportunities to acquire marketable skills and competencies; and
opportunities for community service and civic participation.

Block grant funds will be used to expand existing resources, create new
ones where none existed before, overcome barriers to accessing those
resources, and fill gaps to create a cohesive network for youth. The funds
will be funneled through States, based on an allocation formula that equally
weighs population and poverty measures, to communities where the primary
decisions regarding the use of the funds will take place. Thirty percent of
the local funds are set aside to address the needs of youth who are
particularly vulnerable, such as those who are in out-of-home placements,
abused or neglected, living in high poverty areas, or living in rural areas
where there are usually fewer resources. Dividing the State into regions, or
``planning and mobilization areas,'' ensures that funds will be equitably
distributed throughout a State. Empowering community boards, comprised of
youth, parents, and other members of the community, to supervise decisions
regarding the use of the block grant funds ensures that the programs,
services, and activities supported by the Act will be responsive to local
needs.

Accountability is integral to any effective Federal program. The Younger
American's Act provides the Department of Health and Human Services with the
responsibility and funding to conduct research and evaluate the
effectiveness of funded initiatives. States and the Department are charged
with monitoring the use of funds by grantees, and empowered to withhold or
reduce funds if problems arise.

The Younger American's Act will help kids gain the skills and experience
they need to successfully navigate the rough waters of adolescence. My
twenty-first century community learning centers initiative supports the
efforts of schools to operate after school programs that emphasize academic
enrichment. It's time to get the rest of the community involved. It's time
to give the same level of support to the thousands of youth development and
youth-serving organizations that struggle to keep their doors open every
day.

I remember a young man, Brad Luck, who testified before the H.E.L.P.
Committee several years ago. As a 14-year-old, Brad embarked on a two-year
mission to open a teen center in his home town of Essex Junction, Vermont.
He formed a student board of directors, sought 501(c)(3) status and gave
over 25 community presentations to convince the town to back the program.
Demonstrating the tenacity of youth, he then spear-headed a successful drive
to raise $30,000 in 30 days to fund the start-up of the center. Today, the
center is thriving in its town-donated space. This is an example of the type
of community asset building supported by the Younger American's Act.

The Younger American's Act is about an investment in our youth, our
communities, and our future. I want to thank America's Promise, the United
Way, and the National Collaboration for Youth for their work in providing
the original framework for the legislation. I am proud and excited to be
part of this important initiative.