[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3492-S3493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 105--DESIGNATING APRIL 15, 2005, AS NATIONAL YOUTH 
                  SERVICE DAY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allen, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Craig, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, 
Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lott, Mr. Martinez, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Reed, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Santorum, 
Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
Stevens, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Bunning) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 105

       Whereas National Youth Service Day is an annual public 
     awareness and education campaign that highlights the valuable 
     contributions that young people make to their communities 
     throughout the year;
       Whereas the goals of National Youth Service Day are to 
     mobilize youth as leaders in identifying and addressing 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, and in many 
     other countries, are volunteering more than in any generation 
     in history;
       Whereas young people should be viewed as the hope not only 
     of the future, but also of today, and should be valued for 
     the idealism,

[[Page S3493]]

     energy, creativity, and commitment they bring to the 
     challenges found in their communities;
       Whereas there is a fundamental and conclusive correlation 
     between youth service and lifelong adult volunteering and 
     philanthropy;
       Whereas through community service, 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 curriculum-based 
     learning, is a proven strategy to increase academic 
     achievement and strengthens civic engagement and civic 
     responsibility;
       Whereas several private foundations and corporations in the 
     United States support service-learning because they 
     understand that strong communities begin with strong schools 
     and a community investment in the lives and futures of youth;
       Whereas a sustained investment by the Federal Government, 
     business partners, schools, and communities fuels the 
     positive, long-term cultural change that will make service 
     and service-learning the common expectation and the common 
     experience of all young people;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day, a program of Youth 
     Service America, is the largest service event in the world 
     and is being observed for the 17th consecutive year in 2005;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day, with the support of 50 
     lead agencies, hundreds of grant winners, and thousands of 
     local partners, engages millions of young people nationwide;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day will involve 114 
     national partners, including 8 Federal agencies and 10 
     organizations that are offering grants to support National 
     Youth Service Day;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global 
     Youth Service Day, which occurs concurrently in over 120 
     countries and is now in its sixth year; and
       Whereas young people will benefit greatly from expanded 
     opportunities to engage in meaningful volunteer service and 
     service-learning: 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.

       The Senate--
       (1) designates April 15, 2005, as ``National Youth Service 
     Day''; and
       (2) calls 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 and engage youth in meaningful 
     decision making opportunities today as an investment in the 
     future of our Nation.

                          ____________________