[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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