Supporting the goals and ideals of "Lights On Afterschool!", a national celebration of after-school programs.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 66, which I introduced with my friend and colleague from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) to highlight the goals of the sixth annual ``Lights on Afterschool!'' celebration.

This event, organized by the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the J.C. Penney Afterschool Fund is the only national celebration of after-school programs and the important role they play in the lives of children, families, and communities.

On October 20, more than 1 million Americans, representing thousands of after-school initiatives across the country, including 166 programs in my home State of New York, are expected to open their doors to parents, neighbors, business leaders, and elected officials to showcase their accomplishments. In my own district, events will take place in New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Ossining, and Yonkers, and more programs are registering every day.

In spite of the growing enthusiasm for this year's ``Lights On!'' celebration, we do need more than just one day a year to highlight the importance of after-school programs. That is why I joined with other representatives, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), and I thank also my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), who I did not mention before for supporting this program, as well as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey). We formed the bipartisan Congressional After- School Caucus earlier this year. Our mission is simple: Build support for these programs within Congress and to translate that support into sufficient funding to meet the growing demand for after-school initiatives.

For years, we have known that what our kids do after school can have as great an impact as what they do in school. In 1996, from my seat on the Committee on Appropriations, I helped create the 21st Century Community

Learning Centers, the first ever Federal after-school initiative. Since then, we have watched it grow from a $1 million demonstration project to a $1 billion permanent program today because there is astonishing demand and tremendous unmet need for it.

In fact, according to a study conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, 40 percent of middle school children, the age when kids are most vulnerable to engaging in dangerous activities, are unsupervised for a good portion of the day. Parents need safe, structured environments where their kids can learn and play, make friends, and develop new interests, yet Congress is not doing what we should to ensure that our kids are safe and engaged while their parents are at work.

The Congressional After-School Caucus and the ``Lights On!'' celebration will focus on changing that. We will share the lessons we have learned to make sure after-school does not become an after-thought in our Federal education priorities. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, join the Caucus, and fight tooth and nail for every dollar available so that kids and their parents have access to these desperately needed programs.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 66) supporting the goals and ideals of ``Lights on Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.J. Res. 66.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Resolution 66, offered by my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey). This resolution seeks to support the goals and ideals of ``Lights on Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs.

This year's Lights on Afterschool rally, taking place October 20, 2005, is expected to include more than 7,000 events in the United States and at military bases around the world. This event is aimed at bringing attention to the need for high-quality, after-school programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement.

I support this resolution, because after-school programs are an important part of many American students' lives. High-quality after- school programs provide safe, challenging, and fun learning experiences that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills.

In my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, after-school programs have proven to be highly beneficial. For example, the LOOP after-school program has shown that students who participated 3 or more days a week did better academically and had better attendance in school than students who did not participate.

I am pleased we are able to bring attention to the critical importance of after-school programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities. I commend the communities across the Nation that engage in innovative after-school programs and activities and ensure that the doors stay open and the lights stay on for all children after school.

This resolution is simple and straightforward. It supports the goals and ideals of ``Lights on Afterschool!'', a nationwide celebration of after-school programs. I commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), for her leadership in offering House Joint Resolution 66 and urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a small farming village in Minnesota. There was no need for after-school programs because after school, everyone went back home to the farms to milk the cows, feed the animals, and so forth. We live in a different world today, and it is absolutely essential that children have appropriate, meaningful, and useful activities after school in today's world.

This resolution commemorates a very good program, the ``Lights on Afterschool'' program, which has been invaluable in many communities, and I am pleased to join in this resolution to honor that effort and to recognize it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Resolution 66, supporting the goals and ideals of `Lights On Afterschool!', a national celebration of after-school programs. Passage of this bill will not only recognize this celebration, but also reaffirm the United States Congress' continuing commitment to providing our children after-school programs.

The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' celebration was started in October of 2000 and was hosted in over 1,000 communities across the nation. The goal of the program at its inception was to call attention to the importance of after-school programs for America's communities. Last year, 7,500 communities celebrated Lights On Afterschool! events. This October, the Afterschool Alliance, the founding organization, expects 1 million Americans to participate in ``Lights On Afterschool!''

In this time of political pressure for budget cuts, ``Lights On Afterschool!'' seeks to celebrate the importance of after-school programs to American Society, and assert the need for even more programs. The worth of after-school programming is not lost on the American public. Nine in ten Americans think children need organized activities or a program to go to after school where they have learning opportunities. Nine in ten also support funding for after-school programs in low-income neighborhoods.

The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program calls for expanding after- school opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one. This is not only a good idea on paper, but a good idea in practice. Teens who participate in after-school programs are three times less likely to try drugs, and less likely to smoke or drink. Teens who do not attend after-school programs are three times more likely to skip class. Students who participate in after-school programs have better grades, are more likely to attend college, and reach higher levels of achievement. The benefit of these programs also extends to the tens of millions of parents of school aged children, who, with the help of these programs, were better able to balance family and work life.

It seems like a simple decision to support the ``Lights On'' program, but budget-tightening is forcing many programs to cut back or even close. There is a tremendous unmet demand for after-school programs. Today, millions of children have no adult supervision after school. Mayors surveyed in 86 cities reported that only one-third of the children needing after school care were receiving it. Over two-thirds of principals whose children lack after-school programs claim a lack of funding as the reason for not having sufficient programming.

The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program is scheduled next month on the 20th of October. Supporting this program--and after-school programs in general--should be a high priority for this country and this congress.

I support H.J. Res. 66 for the foregoing reasons, and I urge my colleagues to follow suit.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I want to first thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for introducing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, supporting after-school programs is one of the most important things that we in Congress and the people around the country can do to improve our children's lives and ensure that they have bright futures. High-quality after-school programs provide children with safe, enriching activities, a place to be where they are welcome and where they are comfortable. Without these programs, the hours between the end of the school day, actually between the school bell and the dinner bell, become the time that children are most likely to get into trouble.

So while these programs are important to all families, they are particularly important and invaluable to working families. Good after- school programs build stronger communities by involving parents, community leaders, business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of young people. That is why I am delighted to support ``Lights on Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs.

On October 20, 2005, as many as 1 million people around the country will attend events to spread the word about the critical importance of high-quality, after-school programs. But we also have to remember that resolutions are not enough. As this resolution notes, there are more than 14 million children in the United States of America who do not have a place to go after school. Yet in recent years, this President and Congress have cut funding for after-school programs.

So by all means, let us resolve today to support these programs, but when it comes time to put our money where our mouths are, let us support them financially also.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Lowey), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), an original cosponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution fits directly into my legislation, the Balancing Act, legislation that is intended to help working families bridge their responsibilities of work and their responsibilities to their families.

As this resolution notes, there are more than 14 million children in the United States who do not have a place to go after school. Yet in recent years, this President and this Congress have cut funding for after-school programs. So by all means, let us resolve today to support these programs, but when it comes time to put our money where our mouths are, let us support them financially as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the following vote on Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2005, I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall vote 501: I would have voted ``aye'' on the Department of Justice Authorization Act, H.R. 3402. Despite passage of the Manager's amendment, this bill does ensure that programs which help prevent violence and assist survivors are continued. I also support provisions in this bill that help local communities with additional resources to provide better support and security to victims of domestic violence.

Rollcall vote 500: I would have voted ``aye'' on the Democratic Motion to Recommit, offered by Representative Stupak, which would have given the Justice Department authority to prosecute oil companies engaged in price gouging.

Rollcall vote 499: I would have voted ``nay'' on the Managers Amendment offered by Representative Sensenbrenner. The amendment significantly weakens the bill's emphasis on domestic violence grant funding for communities of color. Racial and ethnic minorities already face complex issues in reporting and accessing assistance for domestic violence; we cannot shortchange this population.

Rollcall vote 498: I would have voted ``nay'' on the Rule for consideration of H.R. 3402, because it did not allow for consideration of many important Democratic and bipartisan amendments.

Rollcall vote 497: I would have voted ``aye'' on the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2360, offered by Representative Sabo, which would have prevented the reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security from further weakening federal emergency preparedness capability.

Rollcall vote 496: I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Con. Res. 209, supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic

violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families.

Rollcall vote 495: I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 438, a bill to name a postal facility in Berkeley, California, after Maudelle Shirek. Ms. Shirek has provided a significant service to this country fighting against injustice, poverty, and housing discrimination.

Rollcall vote 494: I would have voted ``aye'' on H.J. Res. 66, supporting the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool,'' a national celebration of after-school programs.