|
Washington, DC - Senator John F. Kerry today addressed students from across the country who are attending their annual YouthBuild leadership conference and are lobbying their representatives in support of the program.
The students are circulating a letter, co-sponsored by Senator Kerry, urging the Senate appropriations committee to allocate additional funds for YouthBuild programs nationwide.
"YouthBuild saves lives. It takes a special kind of person to face and overcome obstacles and to care enough about themselves, their family, and their community to want to rebuild their lives. The participants in YouthBuild are living proof that with a little help, the American dream is alive and well," said Senator Kerry. "I will continue to fight for more funding for this program so we can reach more kids and touch more lives. It's a smart investment in the future of an at-risk generation of courageous young Americans."
In 1992 Senator Kerry introduced a bill that made YouthBuild a national program, enabling it to receive federal funding. And just last year he was the first to introduce the YouthBuild Transfer Act (P.L. 109-281) which passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and was signed into law by President Bush. The new law transfers the YouthBuild program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Department of Labor (DOL).
Since its inception, 60,000 of young people have built over 15,000 units of affordable housing. There are over 226 YouthBuild programs in 43 states for 8,000 young adults, and Senator Kerry believes that number can - and should - grow. Last year alone, 260 communities were denied YouthBuild funding. In 2004 local programs turned away over 12,000 applicants solely for lack of funds.
###
|
