[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 424 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 424

  Honoring the 25th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge 
                                Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2018

   Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Daines, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

                           November 27, 2018

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to with an amended preamble

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the 25th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge 
                                Program.

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (referred to in this preamble 
        as the ``Youth Challenge Program'') is celebrating 25 years of providing 
        successful and free alternative education and structured discipline to 
        at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18;
Whereas the Youth Challenge Program was born from the visionary concept of using 
        a ``whole person'' intervention model to combat the effects of gangs, 
        violence, high rates of school dropout, and drug abuse on a generation 
        of youth;
Whereas the Youth Challenge Program is a federally and State-funded program that 
        offers a unique opportunity for at-risk youth to change course at a 
        critical time in life;
Whereas the multiphased Youth Challenge Program uses quasi-military discipline 
        and training, coupled with educational instruction, learning, and 
        mentorship, to promote the character development and resilience of at-
        risk youth;
Whereas one phase of the Youth Challenge Program is a 5-month residential 
        program that focuses on the following 8 core components: life-coping 
        skills, leadership and followership, service to community, job skills, 
        academic excellence, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, and 
        physical fitness;
Whereas another phase of the Youth Challenge Program is a 12-month mentoring 
        phase that builds on the 8 core components to help shape youth into 
        productive citizens ready for societal success;
Whereas the Youth Challenge Program offers more than 11,000 cadets annually an 
        opportunity to succeed outside of a traditional high school environment;
Whereas there are currently 39 Youth Challenge programs operating in 28 States, 
        Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia;
Whereas more than 165,000 cadets have graduated from the Youth Challenge 
        Program;
Whereas more than 116,000 academic credentials have been awarded under the Youth 
        Challenge Program; and
Whereas graduates of the Youth Challenge Program have improved physically and 
        mentally and are poised to become assets to the communities of the 
        graduates and to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that the National Guard Youth Challenge 
        Program has been successfully helping at-risk youth for 25 
        years;
            (2) commends the accomplishments of all of the graduates of 
        the National Guard Youth Challenge Program; and
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to support--
                    (A) the National Guard Youth Challenge Program; and
                    (B) the critical mission of the National Guard 
                Youth Challenge Program to help and develop the 
                character of at-risk youth in the United States.
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