[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 49 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 338, which was
submitted earlier today by Senator Murkowski.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 338) calling on the President to
designate April 16, 2004, as National Youth Service Day, and
for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, earlier today I submitted a Senate
resolution that requests the President of the United States to
designate April 16, 2004, as ``National Youth Service Day.'' I am proud
to be submitting this Senate resolution for the second year. National
Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world with over 3
million participants. 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.
National Youth Service Day is a public awareness and education
campaign that highlights the positive 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.
National Youth Service Day brings a diverse group of local, regional,
and national partners together to support and promote youth service.
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, Alexander, Allen, Bayh,
Bunning, Campbell, Clinton, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Conrad, DeWine,
Dodd, Domenici, Durbin, Kerry, Landrieu, Mikulski, Murray, Schumer,
Snowe, Stabenow, and Stevens for cosponsoring 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. FRIST. Mr. President, 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 to this matter be
printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 338) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 338
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 as leaders to identify and address the needs
of their communities through service and service-learning, to
support youth on a lifelong path of service and civic
engagement, and to educate the public, the media, and
policymakers about the year-round contributions of young
people as community leaders;
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 a sustained investment by the Federal Government
and commitment by corporate partners fuels the positive,
long-term cultural change that will make service and service-
learning the common expectation and common experience of all
youth;
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 a classroom
curriculum, is a proven strategy to increase academic
achievement;
Whereas private foundations and corporations support youth
service and service-learning because they believe that strong
communities begin with strong schools and a community
investment in the lives and futures of youth;
Whereas National Youth Service Day is a program of Youth
Service America, and is being observed in 2004 for the 16th
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 90 national partners;
Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global
Youth Service Day, which occurs concurrently in 127 countries
and is now in its fifth 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 16, 2004, as
``National Youth Service Day''.
(b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests that the President
issue a proclamation--
(1) designating April 16, 2004, 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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