[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 21 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

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                               speech of

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important 
contributions of mentoring programs such as the One Star Foundation, an 
initiative established by the State of Texas, and the program HOSTS, 
Helping One Student to Succeed, in the Laredo Independent School 
District, which help students who are at risk of failing reading and or 
math by mentoring them with members of the community, and the Big 
Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas program. The National Mentoring 
Month is important, and it serves as a guide to us in our communities 
to reach out to youth, to show them there is another way, that they 
should not give into despair, but instead give into the hope of a 
better future.
  Every time you reach out and mentor a child, you provide that child 
with a positive example of what an adult role model should be. 
Mentoring can be an invaluable resource for single-parent families, and 
low-income families, and it helps give the children the ability to 
succeed in school. There are over 156 mentoring programs in the State 
of Texas, and over 50 mentoring programs in my district working to give 
hope to children in urban and rural communities. These are excellent 
examples of how communities should come together to ensure that 
children have the best chance to succeed in their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to honor the 
value of H.R. 660, which supports the goals and ideals of National 
Mentoring Month.

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