[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 25 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      January 27, 2003.
Whereas mentors serve as role models, advocates, friends, and advisors to young 
        people in need;
Whereas numerous studies document that mentors help young people augment social 
        skills, enhance emotional well-being, improve cognitive skills, and plan 
        for the future;
Whereas, for some children, having a caring adult mentor to turn to for guidance 
        and encouragement can make the crucial difference between success and 
        failure in life;
Whereas, 17.6 million young people, nearly half the youth population, want or 
        need mentors to help them reach their full potential;
Whereas there exists a large ``mentoring gap'' of unmet needs, with only 2.5 
        million youth in formal mentoring relationships, leaving 15 million 
        young people still in need of mentors;
Whereas the celebration of National Mentoring Month will institutionalize the 
        Nation's commitment to mentoring and raise awareness of mentoring in its 
        various forms;
Whereas a month-long focus on mentoring will tap into the vast pool of potential 
        mentors and motivate adults to take action to help a young person;
Whereas National Mentoring Month will encourage organizations of all kinds, 
        including businesses, faith communities, government agencies, schools, 
        and more, to engage their constituents in mentoring;
Whereas the celebration of National Mentoring Month would above all encourage 
        more people to volunteer as mentors, to the benefit of the Nation's 
        children; and
Whereas on January 2, 2003, President George W. Bush signed a proclamation 
        naming January 2003 as National Mentoring Month and called upon the 
        people of the United States to recognize the importance of being role 
        models for youth, to look for mentoring opportunities in their 
        communities, and to celebrate this month with appropriate ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends those who give their time and talents to support 
        mentoring programs; and
            (2) supports efforts to promote greater awareness of the need for 
        youth mentors and increased involvement with youth through mentoring.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.