[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 424 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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 and Mr. Perdue) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 10,000 cadets annually an 
        opportunity to succeed outside of a traditional high school environment;
Whereas there are currently 40 Youth Challenge programs operating in 28 States, 
        Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia;
Whereas more than 160,000 cadets have graduated from the Youth Challenge 
        Program;
Whereas more than 110,000 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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