[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 908 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 908

      Supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2007

  Ms. McCollum of Minnesota (for herself, Mr. Keller of Florida, Mrs. 
    Davis of California, and Mr. Rogers of Michigan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                               and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month.

Whereas youth mentoring establishes a structured and trusting relationship 
        between young people and caring individuals who offer guidance, support, 
        and encouragement;
Whereas a growing body of mentoring research provides strong evidence that 
        mentoring programs are successful in reducing delinquency, substance use 
        and abuse, and academic failure;
Whereas research also shows that formal mentoring that is focused on developing 
        the competence and character of the young person promotes positive 
        outcomes such as improved academic achievement, self-esteem, social 
        skills, and career development;
Whereas mentoring provides a supportive environment in which young people can 
        grow, expand their vision of the future, and achieve goals that they 
        never thought possible;
Whereas more than 4,000 mentoring programs in communities of all sizes across 
        the United States focus on building strong, effective relationships 
        between mentors and mentees;
Whereas public-private mentoring partnerships bring State and local leaders 
        together to support mentoring programs by preventing duplication of 
        efforts, offering training in best practices, and helping mentoring 
        programs make the most of the limited resources available to benefit the 
        Nation's youth;
Whereas the Corporation for National and Community Service has convened--

    (1) the Federal Mentoring Council, which brings together several 
Federal agencies to coordinate approaches to mentoring within the Federal 
Government; and

    (2) the National Mentoring Working Group, consisting of experts in 
mentoring from non-profit organizations and foundations, to share 
information and ideas about mentoring programs;

Whereas more than 15,000,000 young people in the United States fall into a 
        mentoring gap and still need mentors;
Whereas coordinated national, State, regional, and local efforts need Federal 
        support to connect more youth with the powerful benefits that result 
        from mentoring;
Whereas designation of January 2008 as National Mentoring Month will help call 
        attention to the critical role mentors play in helping young people 
        realize their potential;
Whereas the month-long celebration of mentoring will encourage more 
        organizations across the United States, including schools, businesses, 
        nonprofit organizations, faith institutions, foundations, and 
        individuals to become engaged in mentoring;
Whereas National Mentoring Month will--

    (1) build awareness of mentoring;

    (2) encourage more people to become mentors; and

    (3) help close the Nation's mentoring gap; and

Whereas the President issued a proclamation declaring January 2008 to be 
        National Mentoring Month and calling on the people of the United States 
        to--

    (1) recognize the importance of mentoring;

    (2) look for opportunities to serve as mentors in their communities; 
and

    (3) observe the month with appropriate activities and programs: Now, 
therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Mentoring 
        Month;
            (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and 
        groups who promote mentoring and who are observing the month 
        with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote 
        awareness of and volunteer involvement with youth mentoring;
            (3) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
        millions of caring adults and students who are already 
        volunteering as mentors; and
            (4) encourages more adults and students to volunteer as 
        mentors.
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