Supporting the We Don't Serve Teens campaign.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1042, which supports the We Don't Serve Teens campaign.

I commend my California colleague, Mary Bono Mack, for her leadership in offering this resolution, and for highlighting the public health crisis of underage drinking in our country. This crisis is real, and the impact on the health and safety of our children is profound.

During the 10 years I've been working on this issue, one thing has been made perfectly clear: underage drinking and its serious consequences are not inevitable. From research, we know that parents are the leading influence over their children's decision to drink or not drink alcohol. Simply stated, when parents talk, kids really do listen. Unfortunately, many parents under estimate the problem of underage drinking in their communities and therefore do not talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol consumption.

The facts are, however, that each year, 10.8 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 20 report illegal alcohol consumption. This number includes

41 percent of 8th grade students, 62 percent of 10th grade students, and 73 percent of 12th graders.

State officials, business leaders, parents and community leaders can also make a difference. When they come together to fight this public health crisis, it is possible to reduce the terrible toll underage drinking has on our youth. The We Don't Serve Teens Campaign will help us reach that goal.

From my personal experience in my own district, I can attest to how highly successful the program is in educating parents and their children about the dangers of underage drinking. Last fall I worked with the Century Council and the Federal Trade Commission to bring this important public safety campaign to Los Angeles during National We Don't Serve Teens Week.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association and the California Highway Patrol joined us in sending a strong message to retailers, parents and adults that providing alcohol to any person under the age of 21 is unsafe, irresponsible, and illegal.

I was privileged to host this important campaign in my district, and I am honored to support this resolution today.

I hope that passage of this resolution will encourage others to become more actively involved in the fight against underage drinking. By working together to reduce underage drinking, we will provide a safer and healthier future for our children.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 1042 and to do what they can in their communities to get the message out.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1042) supporting the We Don't Serve Teens campaign, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1042, supporting the We Don't Serve Teens Campaign.

Underage drinking is an ongoing problem in our country, as over half of high school seniors drink alcoholic beverages, while more than a quarter of them engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking at a young age is an especially troubling activity, as those teens are more susceptible to both alcohol addiction and dependence.

Besides binge drinking, teens who drink are more likely to engage in other risky behavior, including smoking, having sex without birth control, and drinking and driving. This last behavior should be a particular concern to everyone as the combination of inexperience behind the wheel and alcohol often results in a deadly conclusion.

Currently, car crashes rank as the leading cause of death among individuals ages 15 to 20. We must all work to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

The resolution before us supports the goals and ideals of campaigns working to improve long-term health, encourages Americans to use resources to help combat underage drinking, and commends organizations that are already working to reduce underage drinking.

I want to thank my colleague, Representative Bono Mack, for her leadership on this resolution. It's an important issue to address.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in support of its adoption.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard).

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, I would urge passage of this resolution relative to underage drinking, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

And I do rise in support of House Resolution 1042.

Since Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age in 1984, teen drinking rates have dropped; 25 percent fewer high school seniors drink than in 1983. But despite these gains, many teens still drink, and when they do, it can be to excess, with 25 percent of seniors reporting binge drinking.

Mr. Speaker, adolescent years can be fraught with peril. It is said that being a teenager is risky business. Adding alcohol to the mix can compound the difficulties, and especially when driving, being behind the wheel of a car. Drunk driving is the leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 20. These crashes claim and kill almost 2,000 teenagers each year; and in 65 percent of them, the kids got the alcohol without permission from family or friends.

The best protections against underage drinking are prevention and enforcement strategies by parents and members of the community. Parents should take the time to discuss with their children the dangers of underage drinking, and can use the Federal Trade Commission's Web site as a resource for parents, educators and community leaders concerned about underage drinking.

The We Don't Serve Teens campaign has worked to unite State officials, business leaders, parents and all three tiers of the beverage alcohol industry in fighting underage drinking, and unites all of those participants in a concerted effort to protect America's youth.

I do want to thank the sponsor of the resolution, Mrs. Bono Mack of California, for raising public awareness and her continued effort to reduce underage drinking.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

Having no additional requests for time on my side, I will yield back the balance of my time.