III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 493 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 20, 2010 Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Begich, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Gregg, Mr. LeMieux, Mr. Burr, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Isakson, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating April 23 through 25, 2010, as Global Youth Service Days.

Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youths who improve their communities each day through community service and service-learning programs; Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Days are— (1)to mobilize and support young people to identify and address the needs of their communities, schools, and organizations; and (2)to provide opportunities for— (A)youth engagement; and (B)the public, the media, and policymakers to recognize and raise awareness of young people as assets and resources; Whereas Global Youth Service Days, a program of Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the world and the only service event dedicated to youth engagement; Whereas, in 2010, Global Youth Service Days is being observed for the 22nd consecutive year in the United States and, in more than 100 countries, for the 11th year globally; Whereas Global Youth Service Days engages millions of young people worldwide with the support of more than 200 national and international partners, 85 State and local lead agencies, and thousands of local partners; Whereas high quality community service and service-learning programs— (1)increase the academic engagement and achievement of young people; (2)prepare young people for the workforce; and (3)provide young people with the skills necessary to achieve success in the 21st century; Whereas community service and service-learning programs provide opportunities for young people to apply their knowledge, idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspectives to solving critical issues, including health, childhood obesity, education, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, the environment, violence, and natural disasters; Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an opportunity for citizen diplomacy that increases intercultural understanding and promotes the sense that youths are global citizens, as evidenced by the growing number of projects that involve youths working collaboratively across borders to address global issues; Whereas thousands of participants in schools and community-based organizations are planning Global Youth Service Days activities as a part of Semester of Service, a program that includes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, in which young people spend the semester addressing meaningful community needs connected to intentional learning goals or academic standards over at least 70 hours; Whereas thousands of youth volunteers learn, create, and implement innovative solutions to global issues on Global Youth Service Days through “Get Ur Good On,” an online network of youths supporting each other in the mission to do good works in their communities; Whereas Global Youth Service Days provides young children, teenagers, and young adults with an opportunity to contribute their abilities and talents as active citizens and community leaders; Whereas Global Youth Service Days provides schools, community organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, and families with an opportunity to engage youths as leaders and problem solvers; and Whereas section 198(g) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653(g)) recognizes Global Youth Service Days as national days of service and calls on the Corporation for National and Community Service, other Federal agencies and departments, and the President of the United States to recognize and support youth-led activities on the designated days: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes and commends the significant contributions of the youths of the United States and encourages the cultivation of a civic bond between young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation; (2)designates April 23 through 25, 2010, as Global Youth Service Days; and (3)calls on the people of the United States to observe Global Youth Service Days by— (A)encouraging youths to participate in community service and service-learning projects; (B)recognizing the volunteer efforts of the young people of the United States throughout the year; and (C)supporting the volunteer efforts of young people and engaging young people in meaningful community service, service-learning, and decision-making opportunities, as an investment in the future of the United States.