[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 338 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 338

Calling on the President to designate April 16, 2004, as National Youth 
                  Service Day, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 8, 2004

 Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
    Bayh, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Campbell, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
 Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, 
  Mr. Durbin, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
   Schumer, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
    Feinstein, Mr. Craig, and Mr. Johnson) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling on the President to designate April 16, 2004, as National Youth 
                  Service Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas National Youth Service Day is an annual public awareness and education 
        campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people 
        make to their communities throughout the year;
Whereas the goals of National Youth Service Day are to mobilize youths as 
        leaders to identify and address the needs of their communities through 
        service and service-learning, to support youth on a lifelong path of 
        service and civic engagement, and to educate the public, the media, and 
        policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as 
        community leaders;
Whereas young people in the United States are volunteering more than has any 
        generation in American history;
Whereas the ongoing contributions young people make to their communities 
        throughout the year should be recognized and encouraged;
Whereas young people should be viewed as the hope not only of tomorrow, but of 
        today, and should be valued for the inherent idealism, energy, 
        creativity, and commitment that they employ in addressing the needs of 
        their communities;
Whereas there is a fundamental and absolute correlation between youth service 
        and lifelong adult volunteering and philanthropy;
Whereas a sustained investment by the Federal Government and commitment by 
        corporate partners fuels the positive, long-term cultural change that 
        will make service and service-learning the common expectation and common 
        experience of all youth;
Whereas, through volunteer service and related learning opportunities, young 
        people build character and learn valuable skills, including time 
        management, teamwork, needs-assessment, and leadership, that are sought 
        by employers;
Whereas service-learning, an innovative teaching method combining service to the 
        community with a classroom curriculum, is a proven strategy to increase 
        academic achievement;
Whereas private foundations and corporations support youth service and service-
        learning because they believe that strong communities begin with strong 
        schools and a community investment in the lives and futures of youth;
Whereas National Youth Service Day is a program of Youth Service America, and is 
        being observed in 2004 for the 16th consecutive year;
Whereas Youth Service America continues to expand National Youth Service Day, 
        now engaging millions of young people nationwide with 50 Lead Agencies 
        in nearly every State to organize activities across the United States;
Whereas Youth Service America has expanded National Youth Service Day to involve 
        over 90 national partners;
Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global Youth Service Day, which 
        occurs concurrently in 127 countries and is now in its fifth year; and
Whereas young people will benefit greatly from expanded opportunities to engage 
        in meaningful volunteer service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. RECOGNITION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE.

    The Senate recognizes and commends the significant contributions of 
American youth and encourages the cultivation of a common civic bond 
among young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their 
communities, and the Nation.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY.

    (a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
President should designate April 16, 2004, as ``National Youth Service 
Day''.
    (b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests that the President issue a 
proclamation--
            (1) designating April 16, 2004, as ``National Youth Service 
        Day''; and
            (2) calling on the people of the United States to--
                    (A) observe the day by encouraging and engaging 
                youth to participate in civic and community service 
                projects;
                    (B) recognize the volunteer efforts of our Nation's 
                young people throughout the year; and
                    (C) support these efforts as an investment in the 
                future of our Nation.
                                 <all>