AMERICA. I USE THE WORD "PARTNER" BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A SINGLE
           REQUIREMENT THAT STATES OR LOCALITIES PARTICIPATE AT ALL.
           INSTEAD, THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EXPERT
           ADVICE TO STATES AND COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS WHO WORRY ABOUT --
           WHO WORRY TODAY ABOUT SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND WANT TO RENEW THEIR
           EFFORTS TO FIGHT IT. AND FOR THOSE OF US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
           AISLE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EDUCATION, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS

           AMENDMENT IS A RECOGNITION THAT GOOD SCHOOLS ARE SAFE SCHOOLS.
           IN THIS SPIRIT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE AMENDMENT I WILL OFFER
           HOPEFULLY LATER TODAY ESTABLISHES A NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
           FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND AUTHORIZES
           ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP VIOLENCE
           PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PLANS, AND TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH
           SERVICES AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS. FIRST, THE NATIONAL CENTER
           THAT WE ENVISION, MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD SERVE AS AN EDUCATION
           FEMA, IF YOU WILL WILL. IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENCE OF SCHOOL

           VIOLENCE, THE CENTER'S EXPERTS WOULD BE DISPATCHED DIRECTLY TO
           THE SCHOOL INVOLVED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES. THE
           CENTER'S TEAM OF EXPERTS WOULD PROVIDE CRISIS COUNSELING
           COUNSELING, ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND LONG-TERM
           COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO TAKE
           ADVANTAGE OF THESE SERVICES. SECOND, THE CENTER WOULD ESTABLISH
           A TOLL-FREE ANONYMOUS STUDENT HOT-LINE SO THAT STUDENTS MAY
           REPORT WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR THREATS

           OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND OTHER HIGH-RISK STUDENT BEHAVIORS THEY
           WITNESS OR BECOME AWARE OF. FOR EXAMPLE, A STUDENT COULD CALL
           SUCH A HOT-LINE TO REPORT ANOTHER STUDENT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR
           GHANA FILIATION. THE CENTER WOULD WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY
           GENERAL TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO COORDINATE WITH LAW
           ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO BOTH RELAY THE INFORMATION AND PROTECT
           STUDENT PRIVACY. MR. PRESIDENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS HOT-LINE
           BECAME APPARENT TO ME DURING MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS BILL AS

           WELL AS DURING THE VISIT I MADE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO T.C.
           WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL IN LEKS LEKS, VIRGINIA, JUST TWO DAYS
           AFTER THE -- IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE
           SHOOTING. IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VOID IN OUR
           LEGISLATIVE APPROACH TO PROMOTING SCHOOL SAFETY, MR. PRESIDENT.
           WHILE WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE FUNDING OF SCHOOL
           SAFETY PLANS UNDER THE "COPS" PROGRAM OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS
           YEARS, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ENCOURAGING AND TEACHING
           OUR CHILDREN THAT STUDENTS THEMSELVES ALSO HAVE A
           RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT HIGH-RISK OR THREATENING BEHAVIOR THAT

           THEY ARE AWARE OF IN THEMSELVES OR OTHER STUDENTSMENT --
           STUDENTS. BUT TO EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE THIS, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE
           STUDENTS WITH SAFE CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH TO REPORT THIS
           INFORMATION. A STUDENT WHO IS AWARE OF A PLAN TO BUILD BOMBS OR
           KNOWS THAT ANOTHER STUDENT IS SUICIDAL SHOULD HAVE A
           CONFIDENTIAL WAY TO REPORT THAT KNOWLEDGE. IN THE LONG RUN, MR.
           PRESIDENT, AN INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION IS AN INVESTMENT NOT
           JUST IN THE CHILD WHO MAY BE ON THE BRINK OF PULLING THE

           TRIGGER OR THROWING THE BOMB, BUT INVESTMENT IN THE SAFETY OF
           ALL OUR CHILDREN WHO CAN ALL TOO QUICKLY BECOME TRAGIC VICTIMS.
           THIRD, THE CENTER WOULD PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
           ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, LAW
           ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND OTHERS IN COMMUNITIES ABOUT WAYS TO
           DEVELOP EFFECTIVE SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGIES. OPPONENTS INCLUDE
           HELPING SCHOOLS EFFECTIVELY USE TIP HOT-LINES, ASSISTING WITH
           THREAT ASSESSMENT, HELPING TO CREATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

           POLICE, SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES,
           DEVELOPING MEDIA AND POLICE PROTOCOLS TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES
           EMERGENCIES, AND, VERY IMPORTANTLY, WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
           OF JUSTICE, EDUCATION AND H.H.S. TO HELP TRAIN TEACHERS TO
           LEARN TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS AT RISK OF BRINGING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
           INTO THEIR SCHOOLS. FOURTH, THE CENTER WOULD SERVE AS A
           CLEARINGHOUSE OF INFORMATION ABOUT MODEL SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS
           ACROSS THE COUNTRY COUNTRY, WITH THE CENTER STAFF AVAILABLE TO

           OFFER A WIDE ARRAY OF PLANS TO A COMMUNITY SEEKING ASSISTANCE.
           FROM INCREASED USE OF SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO A COMMUNITY
           CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO DEAL WITH TROUBLED YOUTH. THIS
           INCLUDES THE OPERATION OF A NONEMERGENCY TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR
           THE PUBLIC TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY. FINALLY,
           THE CENTER WOULD CONDUCT RESEARCH ABOUT SCHOOL VIOLENCE
           PREVENTION AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES
           HELP REDUCE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE CAN DO ALL
           THIS FOR LESS THAN $100 MILLION, MR. PRESIDENT. THAT'S THE

           CENTER'S AUTHORIZATION IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WE PLAN TO
           OFFER. FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TO THE STUDENT HOT-LINE TO
           THE TEACHER TRAINING TO IDENTIFY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOL,
           THIS SMALL INVESTMENT IN AN EDUCATION FEMA IS WELL WORTH THE
           EXPERIENCE. -- WELL WORTH THE EXPENSE. IN TRUTH, HOWEVER,
           NOTHING CAN EVER COMPENSATE A FAMILY FOR THE LOSS OF A CHILD,
           BUT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO ALL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
           THIS COUNTRY THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT
           THESE TRAGEDIES FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. MR.

           PRESIDENT, THE SECOND PART OF THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES DIRECT
           SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES AS THEY LOOK FOR RESOURCES, DEVELOP OR
           ENHANCE THEIR OWN SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH PREVENTION SERVICES.
           I BELIEVE COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY FROM THIS
           AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT AUTHORIZES MORE FUNDING FOR COMPREHENSIVE
           COMMUNITY-WIDE SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS UNDER THE SAFE
           SCHOOLS/HEALTHY STUDENTS PROGRAM, AN EXISTING PROGRAM THAT WAS
           ENACTED IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGICINESS DEBT IN JONESBORO,
           ARKANSAS -- TRAGIC INCIDENT IN JONESBORO, ARKANSAS. I WON'T GO
           INTO DETAILS ABOUT THIS PART OF THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I KNOW

           SENATOR KENNEDY HAS BEEN WORK ON THESE ISSUES FOR SOME TIME NOW
           AND HAS PARTICULAR EXPERTISE ABOUT THE COMBINED WORK OF THE
           DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
           SERVICES AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
           COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OR ESTABLISH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
           FOR VIOLENCE-RELATED STRESS AND OTHER TYPES 6 COMMUNITY
           EFFORTS. I CERTAINLY APPLAUD SENATOR -- THE SENATOR FOR ALL
           THAT HE HAS DONE IN THIS REGARD. HE HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING
           ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OVER THE YEARS. MR.
           PRESIDENT, LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING THAT AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL

           AND AS A FORMER MARINE MARINE, I HAVE LONG BELIEVED THAT THE
           FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
           
           TO KEEP OUR CITIZENRY SAFE: SAFE FROM ENEMIES, BOTH FOREIGN AND
           DOMESTIC. AMERICANS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE SAFE IN OUR HOMES, ON
           OUR STREETS AND IN OUR WORKPLACES. AND OUR CHILDREN HAVE A
           RIGHT TO BE SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. FEAR OF VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT
           THREATEN OUR CHILDREN'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, MR. PRESIDENT,
           AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS -- WE CANNOT HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS

           UNLESS WE HAVE SAFE SCHOOLS. MR. PRESIDENT, AS I SAID AT THE
           OUTSET, THERE ARE MANY COMPONENTS OF THIS DEBATE ABOUT SCHOOL
           VIOLENCE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PARENTING
           AND VALUES AND TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT RESPECTING THEIR
           LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND THEM. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
           HOW WE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO ENDANGER OUR HARM OUR
           CHILDREN. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT GUNS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH
           THERE ARE LOOPHOLES IN EXISTING LAWS WHICH CAN BE CHANGED TO
           BETTER PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY

           NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PREVENTION, AND THIS
           AMENDMENT BUILDS UPON THE WORK CONGRESS HAS ALREADY DONE IN THE
           AREA OF PREVENTION. THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE JUST ONE COMPONENT
           OF A DEBATE THAT I HOPE WE WILL ALL SUPPORT TO HELP OUR KIDS
           AND THEIR FAMILIES, AMERICA'S TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS, OUR LAW
           ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATION WHO
           HAVE ONE GOAL IN COMMON -- TO STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE BEFORE IT
           STARTS. HERE IN WASHINGTON WE CAN DO OUR CONSTRUCTIVE SHARE. WE

           CAN PROVIDE EXPERTISE. WE CAN PROVIDE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO
           COMMUNITIES. WE CAN EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO BETTER PROTECT
           AMERICA'S CHILDREN. WE CAN, MR. PRESIDENT, AND WE SHOULD. AS I
           SAID ON THE FLOOR LAST WEEK, MR. PRESIDENT, SIMPLY GOING TO
           SCHOOL SHOULD NOT IN AND 6 ITSELF BE AN ACT OF COURAGE. WITH
           THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE CHAIR, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.

           MR. HATCH: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH.
           

           MR. HATCH: MR. PRESIDENT, I SEND AN AMENDMENT TO THE DESK AND
           ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
           

           THE CLERK: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH, MR. HATCH, PROPOSES AN
           AMENDMENT NUMBERED 322.
           

           MR. HATCH: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE READING OF THE
           AMENDMENT BE DISPENSED WITH.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. LEAHY: MR.
           PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
           

           MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, I SEND AN AMENDMENT IN THE
           SECOND-DEGREE ON BEHALF OF MR. RON AND MR. KENNEDY.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
           

           MR. LEAHY: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE READING BE
           DISPENSED WITH.
           

           MR. HATCH: I HAVE TO OBJECT TO THAT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.
           

           THE CLERK: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT, MR. LEAHY, PROPOSES AN
           AMENDMENT NUMBERED 323 FOR MR. ROBB TO AMENDMENT NUMBERED 322.
           
           AT THE END, ADD THE FOLLOWING: TITLE. RESOURCES AND SERVICES
           FOR COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE. SECTION 1, SHORT
           TITLE. THIS TITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
           FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT OF 1999.
           SECTION 2, FINDINGS. CONGRESS MAKE THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS --

           ONE, WHILE OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS ARE STILL RELATIVELY SAFE, IT
           IS IMPERATIVE THAT SCHOOLS BE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE RESOURCES
           TO PREVENT INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE. TWO, APPROXIMATELY 10% OF ALL
           PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORTED AT LEAST ONE SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME TO A
           LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OVER THE COURSE OF 1996-1997 SCHOOL
           YEAR. THREE, IN 1996, APPROXIMATELY 225,000 STUDENTS BETWEEN
           THE AGES OF 12 AND 18 WERE VICTIMS OF NONFATAL VIOLENT CRIME IN

           SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. FOUR, FROM 1992 THROUGH 1994, 76
           STUDENTS AND 29 NONSTUDENTS WERE VICTIMS OF MURDERS OR SUICIDES
           THAT WERE COMMITTED IN SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. FIVE, THE
           SCHOOL VIOLENCE INCIDENTS IN SEVERAL STATES ACROSS THE NATION
           IN 1998 AND 1999 CAUSED ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO SCHOOLS, FAMILIES
           AND WHOLE COMMUNITIES. SIX, THE CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES
           ARE INCREASINGLY AFRAID THAT THERE WILL BE -- THEY WILL BE
           ATTACKED OR HARMED AT SCHOOL. SEVEN, A REPORT ISSUED BY THE

           DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN AUGUST, 1998, ENTITLED "EARLY
           WARNING, EARLY RESPONSE" CONCLUDED THAT THE REDUCTION AND
           PREVENTION OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE IS BEST ACHIEVED THROUGH SAFETY
           PLANS WHICH INVOLVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, POLICIES WHICH
           EMPHASIZE BOTH PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, TRAINING SCHOOL
           PERSONNEL, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE
           THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF POTENTIAL VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. AND TO
           SHARE THEIR CONCERNS OR OBSERVATIONS WITH TRAINED PERSONNEL
           ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOW RAPID RESPONSE OF -- AND

           INTERVENTION WHEN EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR ARE
           IDENTIFIED AND PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO
           SERVICES FOR TROUBLED STUDENTS. SECOND 3, NATIONAL RESOURCE
           CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION. A,
           ESTABLISHMENT. THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND THE ATTORNEY
           GENERAL SHALL JOINTLY AWARD A GRANT FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE
           NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH VIOLENCE
           PREVENTION AND THIS SECTION REFERRED TO AS "THE CENTER." THE
           SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

           SERVICES, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY AWARD A GRANT FOR THE
           SUPPORT OF THE CENTER AT ANY -- AT AN EXISTING FACILITY IF THE
           FACILITY HAS A HISTORY OF PERFORMING ANY OF THE DUTIES
           DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION "B." THE SECOND OF EDUCATION, THE
           SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE ATTORNEY
           GENERAL SHALL JOINTLY APPOINT A DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER TO
           OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF THE CENTER. B, DUTIES. THE CENTER
           SHALL DEVELOP AND CARRY OUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ANONYMOUS
           STUDENT HOT-LINE TIP LINE, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,

           RESEARCH AND EVALUATION AND CONSULTATION, ACTIVITIES WITH
           RESPECT TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
           
           SCHOOL SAFETY AS FOLLOWS: ONE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THE CENTER
           SHALL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL EMERGENCY SAFE RESPONSE TO
           VIOLENCE FUND, A, TO SERVE RAPID RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY
           ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY VIOLENT SHOOTINGS OR OTHER
           VIOLENT EPISODES. AND, B, TWO HELP COMMUNITIES MEET URGENT

           NEEDS -- MR. HATCH: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH.
           

           MR. HATCH: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE READING OF THE
           AMENDMENT BE DISPEPSED WITH.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. HATCH: MR. PRESIDENT, I WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT. AND I
           SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE AMENDMENT IS WITHDRAWN. A SENATOR:
           MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           MR. HATCH: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING -- MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
           UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. HATCH: IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DISTINGUISHED
           SENATOR FROM NEW YORK JUST WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE BILL. AND WE
           HAVE NO OBJECTION.
           

           MR. SCHUMER: CORRECT. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
           INTRODUCING ANYTHING TODAY.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
           

           MR. SCHUMER: I THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND I THANK THE
           SENATORS FROM UTAH AND VERMONT FOR YIELDING ME TIME ON THE
           FLOOR AS WE BEGIN TO DISCUSS JUVENILE VIOLENCE. AND FIRST, LET
           ME SAY I APPRECIATE THE MAJORITY LEADER MAKING THIS TIME
           AVAILABLE AND AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME, BECAUSE SOME SAY, WELL,
           MAYBE WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF
           THE TRAGEDY IN LITTLETON, COLORADO. BUT I HAVE FOUND IN YEARS
           THAT SOMETIMES WHEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OCCURS, PEOPLE ARE

           FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT MIGHT PREVENT FUTURE TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES.
           AND THEN AFTER WE WAIT SEVERAL MONTHS, NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS.
           AND SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I THINK IT'S CORRECT
           LEGISLATIVELY. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY
           SEEN OTHER TRAGEDIES IN SPRINGFIELD, OREGON; AND IN ARKANSAS
           AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND MOST OF US HAVE GIVEN LOTS OF
           THOUGHT TO THE ISSUE OF HOW DO WE DEAL WITH VIOLENCE AMONG
{END: 1999/05/11 TIME: 15-00 , Tue.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}