[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE SECOND CENTURY OF 
                        BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Osborne) and I introduced H. Con. Res. 41 to honor Big Brothers Big 
Sisters, the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the 
United States which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. In 
recognition of this milestone, we encourage our colleagues to cosponsor 
the resolution which celebrates the centennial of Big Brothers Big 
Sisters and encourages the organization as it works toward its goal of 
serving one million children annually. A Senate companion to this 
legislation is being introduced by Senators Ensign and Dodd.
  The gentleman from Nebraska and I both know firsthand the importance 
of mentoring, and we have both experienced its many rewards. I have 
been a Big Brother now for over 18 years. Beginning in 1986 when I was 
a relatively young lawyer, I walked into the Big Brothers Big Sisters 
of Greater Los Angeles and volunteered to become a Big Brother. I was 
given three Little Brother applications, each of whom had been on a 
waiting list for years. I was also asked how I would feel about having 
a minority Little Brother, to which I responded I thought it would be 
an even better experience for me and I hoped for my Little Brother as 
well.
  I was paired ultimately with David, then 7 years old, who had been on 
the waiting list for 2 years; and we were Big Brothers for a day. It 
was a test run. We went to the beach. We survived the beach, and we 
decided we were the survivors, and now 18 years later we are still the 
survivors in a brotherhood that has lasted for almost two decades. Over 
that time, we went to the movies, we went to the park, we threw a ball 
around, we did all the kind of things brothers do. We each became part 
of each other's family. I cannot say what kind of a difference I may 
have made in his life, but I can tell you he has made a wonderful 
difference in mine.
  I had the opportunity some years ago to go to David's graduation from 
Yale University. I like to say, when people ask me whether I think that 
without my influence in his life David would have gone to Yale, I say, 
no, he would have gone to Harvard. There is more than a little truth in 
that. He is an extraordinary not-so-young man now.
  I also had a wonderful opportunity to watch him graduate from USC 
film school, and I am looking forward one day to going to the premiere 
of one of his films.
  It has been a fabulous experience for me, and I know it has been a 
fabulous experience for my colleague from Nebraska, who has long been a 
champion of mentoring, having established a successful program at the 
University of Nebraska. We join with many Americans in recognizing the 
significant contributions to our Nation's children that Big Brothers 
Big Sisters have been making since 1904 through mentoring, creating and 
nurturing one-to-one relationships between adults and children.
  Through the 454 local agencies that make up this life-changing 
organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than 220,000 
children ages 5 through 18 in 5,000 communities across the United 
States.
  Research shows that Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring 
helps at-risk youth overcome the myriad of challenges they face. Little 
Brothers and Little Sisters are less likely to begin using illegal 
drugs or consuming alcohol, skip school and classes or engage in acts 
of violence. They have greater self-esteem, more confidence in their 
performance at school and are able to get along better with their 
friends and families.
  The organization works closely with parents and guardians to match 
every child with appropriate Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Each 
potential volunteer is screened, trained and supervised to ensure that 
the mentor-child relationship will be a safe and rewarding experience 
for everyone involved. I can attest to that. My interview, I think, was 
several hours long.
  Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters benefits America's most 
important national treasure, our children. Major private investments 
have enabled the organization to be a pioneer in volunteerism and 
developing new ways to reach different populations of at-risk kids. As 
a result, Mr. Speaker, Big Brothers Big Sisters is an ideal Federal 
partner as Congress strives to provide a better future for America's 
children.

                          ____________________