[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 422 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 422

  Designating April 21, 2006, as ``National and Global Youth Service 
                     Day'', and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 4, 2006

Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, 
  Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
  Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Craig, Mr. Dodd, 
  Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, 
 Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. 
   Martinez, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of 
Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Santorum, Ms. Snowe, 
  Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Stevens) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating April 21, 2006, as ``National and Global Youth Service 
                     Day'', and for other purposes.

Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day is an annual public awareness and 
        education campaign that highlights the valuable contributions that young 
        people make to their communities throughout the year;
Whereas the goals of National and Global Youth Service Day are to--

    (1) mobilize the youth of the United States to identify and address the 
needs of their communities through service and service-learning;

    (2) encourage young citizens to embark on a lifelong path of service 
and civic engagement; and

    (3) educate the public, the media, and policymakers about contributions 
made by young people as community leaders throughout the year;

Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth Service 
        America, is the largest service event in the world and is being observed 
        for the 18th consecutive year in 2006;
Whereas young people in the United States and in many other countries are 
        volunteering more than any other generation in history;
Whereas the children and youth of the United States not only represent the 
        future of the Nation, but also are leaders and assets today;
Whereas the children and youth of the United States should be valued for the 
        idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspective that they use when 
        addressing challenges found in their communities;
Whereas a fundamental and conclusive correlation exists between youth service, 
        lifelong adult volunteering, and philanthropy;
Whereas through community service, young people of all ages and backgrounds 
        build character and learn valuable skills sought by employers, including 
        time management, decision-making, teamwork, needs-assessment, and 
        leadership;
Whereas service-learning, an innovative teaching method that combines community 
        service with curriculum-based learning, increases student achievement 
        while strengthening civic responsibility;
Whereas several private foundations and corporations in the United States 
        support service-learning because they understand that educated, 
        civically-engaged communities tend to be economically prosperous and 
        good places to do business;
Whereas sustained investments by the Federal Government, business partners, 
        schools, and communities fuel the positive, long-term cultural change 
        that will make service and service-learning a common expectation and a 
        common experience for all young people;
Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, with the support of 51 lead 
        agencies, hundreds of grant winners, and thousands of local partners, 
        engages millions of young people worldwide;
Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day will involve 38 international 
        organizations and 110 national partners, including 8 Federal agencies 
        and 6 organizations that offer grants to support National and Global 
        Youth Service Day;
Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global Youth Service Day, which 
        occurs concurrently in more than 100 countries and is now in its 7th 
        year; and
Whereas both young people and their communities will benefit greatly from 
        expanded opportunities to engage the youth of the United States in 
        meaningful volunteer service and service-learning: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions 
        of United States youth and encourages the cultivation of a 
        common civic bond between young people dedicated to serving 
        their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation;
            (2) designates April 21, 2006, as ``National and Global 
        Youth Service Day''; and
            (3) calls on the citizens 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 the young 
                people of the United States throughout the year; and
                    (C) support the volunteer efforts of young people 
                and engage them in meaningful decision-making 
                opportunities today as an investment for the future of 
                the United States.
                                 <all>