III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 419 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 23, 2010 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Byrd, and Mr. Bennett) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Guard Youth Challenge Day.

Whereas National Guard Youth Challenge Day will be celebrated on February 24, 2010; Whereas high school dropouts need guidance, encouragement, and avenues toward self-sufficiency and success; Whereas over 1,300,000 students drop out of high school each year, costing this Nation more than $335,000,000,000 in lost wages, revenues, and productivity over the lifetimes of these individuals; Whereas the life expectancy for a high school dropout is 9 years less than that of a high school graduate, and a high school dropout can expect to earn about $19,000 each year, compared to approximately $28,000 for a high school graduate; Whereas 54 percent of high school dropouts were jobless during an average month in 2008, with 40 percent having no job for the entire year; Whereas each annual class of high school dropouts cost this Nation over $17,000,000,000 in publicly subsidized health care over the course of their lives; Whereas approximately 90 percent of individuals in prisons throughout the United States are high school dropouts; Whereas the goal of the National Guard Youth Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to improve the education, life skills, and employment potential of high school dropouts in the United States through public awareness, scholarships, higher education assistance, 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 degree, and development of leadership qualities, as well as promotion of citizenship, fellowship, service to their community, life skills training, health and physical education, positive relationships with adults and peers, and career planning; Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program represents a successful joint effort between States and the Federal Government; Whereas since 1993, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program has developed 32 programs in 27 States and Puerto Rico; Whereas since 1993, over 92,850 young individuals have successfully graduated from the program, with 80 percent earning their high school diploma or GED certificate, 24 percent going to college, 18 percent joining the military, and 57 percent entering the workforce with career jobs; Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program has successfully helped high school dropouts in this Nation; and Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program can play a larger role in providing assistance to the youth of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Guard Youth Challenge Day; and (2)calls upon the people of the United States to observe National Guard Youth Challenge Day on February 24, 2010, with appropriate ceremonies and respect.