[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)] [House] [Page H] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: April 13, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] NURTURING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY (Miss COLLINS of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, The African-American family is challenged today on every front: Nearly 44 percent of all African-American children are poor. Over two-thirds of all African-American children live with a single mother. The number of African-Americans in their twenties who had completed college dropped 6 percent in the last decade. I am introducing five family bills today. My bills would provide job training in high unemployment areas; create mentoring and other community responsibility programs; and support parenting training for foster and at-risk families. Government cannot create families or hold them together. But we can provide important supports for family life and provide hope and opportunity. These bills are a good first step to restoring the health--and hope--of the African-American family. ____________________