110 HRES 1321 IH: Honoring the Oregon National Guard Youth U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1321 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 8, 2008 Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mr. Walden of Oregon, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Hooley, and Mr. Wu) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Honoring the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program for its outstanding achievements.

Whereas the goal of the National Guard Youth Challenge Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is to improve the education, life skills, and employment potential of America's at-risk youth through public awareness programs, scholarships, higher education assistance, mentoring, and job development programs; Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program provides military-based training, supervised work experience, assistance in obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent, development of leadership qualities, life skills training, health and physical education, and positive relationships with adults and peers; Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program promotes citizenship, leadership, fellowship, and service to community; Whereas the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program has an outstanding record of achievement and national recognition; Whereas in 2001, 2003, and 2007 the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program was recognized by the United Service Organizations (USO) as the Best Overall Program in the Nation; Whereas in 2004 and 2007 the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program was recognized as a Top 3 Program for Service to the Community by the USO; Whereas, in 2002, 2005, and 2006 the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program was recognized by the USO as a Top 3 Program Overall in the Nation; Whereas in 2006 the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program was recognized by the USO as the Most Progressive Program in the Nation; Whereas in 2005 the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program was recognized by the USO as the Best Post Residential Program in the Nation; Whereas the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program has successfully helped thousands of Oregon’s at-risk youth who had dropped out of, were not attending, or were failing in school; Whereas the majority of National Guard Youth Challenge Program graduates earn their high school degree or an equivalent, and successfully join the workforce in career jobs; and Whereas Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program graduates serve as peer role models to high school students and at-risk youth by succeeding academically and contributing to community improvement: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors and recognizes the 125 Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program cadets of Class 35 who graduated from the program on June 18, 2008; (2)honors and recognizes the more than 3,500 Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program cadets who have entered the program since 1994; (3)encourages all Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program graduates to further their intellectual inquiry and academic studies in universities and postsecondary educational institutions; (4)supports the continued social engagement of Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program graduates to utilize their knowledge and skills for the betterment of their communities and the social, cultural, and economic advancement of the Nation; and (5)recognizes that the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program serves as a model for the Nation.