[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 422--DESIGNATING APRIL 21, 2006, AS ``NATIONAL AND 
           GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY'', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
Bayh, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Clinton, 
Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Craig, Mr. Dodd, 
Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, 
Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. 
Martinez, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of 
Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Santorum, Ms. Snowe, 
Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Stevens) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 422

       Whereas National and Global 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 and Global Youth Service Day 
     are to--
       (1) mobilize the youth of the United States to identify and 
     address the needs of their communities through service and 
     service-learning;
       (2) encourage young citizens to embark on a lifelong path 
     of service and civic engagement; and
       (3) educate the public, the media, and policymakers about 
     contributions made by young people as community leaders 
     throughout the year ;

       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, a program of 
     Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the 
     world and is being observed for the 18th consecutive year in 
     2006;
       Whereas young people in the United States and in many other 
     countries are volunteering more than any other generation in 
     history;
       Whereas the children and youth of the United States not 
     only represent the future of the Nation, but also are leaders 
     and assets today;
       Whereas the children and youth of the United States should 
     be valued for the idealism, energy, creativity, and unique 
     perspective that they use when addressing challenges found in 
     their communities;
       Whereas a fundamental and conclusive correlation exists 
     between youth service, lifelong adult volunteering, and 
     philanthropy;
       Whereas through community service, young people of all ages 
     and backgrounds build character and learn valuable skills 
     sought by employers, including time management, decision-
     making, teamwork, needs-assessment, and leadership;
       Whereas service-learning, an innovative teaching method 
     that combines community service with curriculum-based 
     learning, increases student achievement while strengthening 
     civic responsibility;
       Whereas several private foundations and corporations in the 
     United States support service-learning because they 
     understand that educated, civically-engaged communities tend 
     to be economically prosperous and good places to do business;
       Whereas sustained investments by the Federal Government, 
     business partners, schools, and communities fuel the 
     positive, long-term cultural change that will make service 
     and service-learning a common expectation and a common 
     experience for all young people;
       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, with the 
     support of 51 lead agencies, hundreds of grant winners, and 
     thousands of local partners, engages millions of young people 
     worldwide;
       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day will involve 
     38 international organizations and 110 national partners, 
     including 8 Federal agencies and 6 organizations that offer 
     grants to support National and Global Youth Service Day;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global 
     Youth Service Day, which occurs concurrently in more than 100 
     countries and is now in its 7th year; and
       Whereas both young people and their communities will 
     benefit greatly from expanded opportunities to engage the 
     youth of the United States in meaningful volunteer service 
     and service-learning: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions 
     of United States youth and encourages the cultivation of a 
     common civic bond between young people dedicated to serving 
     their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation;
       (2) designates April 21, 2006, as ``National and Global 
     Youth Service Day''; and
       (3) calls on the citizens 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 the young people of 
     the United States throughout the year; and
       (C) support the volunteer efforts of young people and 
     engage them in meaningful decision-making opportunities today 
     as an investment for the future of the United States.

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