Youth Development/Afterschool/Violence-After School-Hill 98-99

1 Colloquy Between Senator Jeffords And Senator Dodd on Afterschool Care March 11, 1999 Senator Dodd: Mr. President, I'd like to thank my colleague from Vermont for his cooperation in working out an agreement to address the need for afterschool programs as part of the Health and Education Committee's reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act later this year. As my colleagues know, I was planning to offer an amendment to the Education Flexibility Act, that I offered when this bill was in committee, to increase funding for programs serving children during out-of-school hours through the Child Care And Development Block Grant and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. I know that my colleague from Vermont shares my strong interest in ensuring that children have safe alternatives during the hours they are not in school. He has been a leader for years on this specific issue as well as a tireless advocate for many other critical concerns of American families. Senator jeffords: This is a very important issue for me, but not nearly as important as it is to the parents of the nearly twenty-four million school-age children who need care while their parents work. The issue of how best to meet the needs of school-aged children and youth will be addressed -- not just in the context of one program, like the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act, but within the framework of a comprehensive, cohesive review of federal public education policy. Senator Dodd: Out of consideration for the senator's interest in moving this bill forward expeditiously, I have agreed to withdraw my amendment. I am pleased that Senator Jeffords has agreed instead to take up this issue as part of ESEA and to hold comprehensive hearings on the issue of afterschool care this year. I am particularly pleased that Senator Frist shares our concern about the documented rise in juvenile crime that we see in the hours immediately after school. I also appreciate his pledge to work with us to increase support for afterschool programs. Senator Jeffords: I want to thank Senator Dodd for helping us move the educational flexibility legislation along. I want to assure him and my senate colleagues that the withdrawal of senator dodd's amendment does not signal the end of the senate debate on school-aged child care, but the beginning of our work.