Hatch, Leahy Introduce Legislation To Support Boys & Girls Clubs

Press Release

Hatch, Leahy Introduce Legislation To Support Boys & Girls Clubs

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and former Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced legislation today to reauthorize a Department of Justice grant program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Leahy and Hatch have worked together in previous Congresses to secure funding for the organization, which has clubs every state.

The Boys & Girls Clubs Centennial Reauthorization Act will authorize funding for the organization through 2015. There are more than 4,300 Boys & Girls Clubs in all 50 states, which serve nearly five million children every year. The grant program will contribute to services and support the 50,000 staff members of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. The legislation comes at a time when participation in Boys & Girls Clubs programs is higher than ever, and many organizations have been forced to reduce services as a result of the current economic climate.

"Children all across the country benefit from the services provided by the Boys & Girls Club," Leahy said. "Funding for the Boys & Girls Clubs, particularly during this difficult recession, is vital to ensure that our children have positive environments to learn and grow. This national organization has repeatedly demonstrated over the years that investing young people's futures yields positive returns for our communities. I am extremely proud of the work they continue to do."

"The Boys & Girls Clubs of America offer critical services to our nation's youth," said Hatch. "I believe that mentoring programs make a tremendous difference in a child's life. The Boys & Girls Clubs is a proven successful organization that enriches the lives of millions or American children. They are truly the positive place for kids."

The Boys & Girls Clubs Centennial Reauthorization Act is cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Judiciary Committee Member Herb Kohl (D-Wis.). Leahy and Hatch successfully championed legislation in the 108th Congress to reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2009.

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