[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of S. Res. 112, which was submitted earlier
today by Senators Murkowski and Akaka.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 112) designating April 11th, 2003, as
National Youth Service Day, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. Res. 112, a
resolution that requests the President of the United States to
designate April 11, 2003 as ``National Youth Service Day,''
acknowledges the remarkable community service efforts of youth today,
and encourages all people to recognize and support the significance of
these contributions.
NYSD is a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the
extraordinary contributions that young people make to their communities
throughout the year. On this day, youth from across the United States
and the world will carry out community service projects in areas
ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. NYSD is the largest
service event in the world with over three million participants. NYSD
brings a diverse group of local, regional, and national partners
together to support and promote youth service.
As a mother of two young sons, I understand the importance of
recognizing and supporting the positive contributions that youth make
to our country and the world each and every day. It is imperative to
keep young people active and motivated, and instilled with a sense of
community responsibility. Volunteer work gives youth an outlet to gain
this responsibility, and to learn valuable skills that are essential to
personal and academic achievement.
I thank my colleagues--Senators Akaka, Baucus, Biden, Brownback,
Bunning, Campbell, Clinton, Cochran, Collins, DeWine, Domenici, Durbin,
Johnson, Kennedy, Landrieu, Lugar, Mikulski, Murray, and Stevens--for
co-sponsoring this worthwhile legislation, which will ensure that youth
across the country and the world know that all of their hard work is
greatly appreciated.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon
the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 112) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 112
Whereas National Youth Service Day is an annual public
awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing
contributions that young people make to their communities
throughout the year;
Whereas the goals of National Youth Service Day are to
mobilize youths to identify and address the needs of their
communities through service, recruit the next generation of
volunteers, and educate the public about the contributions
young people make as community leaders throughout the year;
Whereas young people in the United States are volunteering
more than has any generation in American history;
Whereas the ongoing contributions young people make to
their communities throughout the year should be recognized
and encouraged;
Whereas young people should be viewed as the hope not only
of tomorrow, but of today, and should be valued for the
inherent idealism, energy, creativity, and commitment that
they employ in addressing the needs of their communities;
Whereas there is a fundamental and absolute correlation
between youth service and lifelong adult volunteering and
philanthropy;
Whereas, through volunteer service and related learning
opportunities, young people build character and learn
valuable skills, including time management, teamwork, needs-
assessment, and leadership, that are sought by employers;
Whereas service-learning, an innovative teaching method
combining service to the community with classroom curriculum,
is a proven strategy to increase academic achievement;
Whereas National Youth Service Day was first organized in
1988 by Youth Service America and the Campus Outreach
Opportunity League, and is now being observed in 2003 for the
15th consecutive year;
Whereas Youth Service America continues to expand National
Youth Service Day, now engaging millions of young people
nationwide with 50 Lead Agencies in nearly every State to
organize activities across the United States;
Whereas Youth Service America has expanded National Youth
Service Day to involve over 60 National Partners;
Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global
Youth Service Day, which occurs concurrently in 127 countries
and is now in its fourth year; and
Whereas young people will benefit greatly from expanded
opportunities to engage in meaningful volunteer service: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. RECOGNITION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH COMMUNITY
SERVICE.
The Senate recognizes and commends the significant
contributions of American youth and encourages the
cultivation of a common civic bond among young people
dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and
the Nation.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY.
(a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate
that the President should designate April 11, 2003, as
``National Youth Service Day''.
(b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests the President to
issue a proclamation--
(1) designating April 11, 2003, as ``National Youth Service
Day''; and
(2) calling on the people of the United States to--
(A) observe the day by encouraging and engaging youth to
participate in civic and community service projects;
(B) recognize the volunteer efforts of our Nation's young
people throughout the year; and
(C) support these efforts as an investment in the future of
our Nation.
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