[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 12 (Friday, January 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 430--DESIGNATING JANUARY 2008 AS ``NATIONAL MENTORING 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Burr, 
Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Isakson, 
Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. 
Lincoln, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Specter) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 430

       Whereas youth mentoring establishes a structured and 
     trusting relationship that brings young people together with 
     caring individuals who offer guidance, support, and 
     encouragement;
       Whereas a growing body of mentoring research provides 
     strong evidence of success in reducing delinquency, substance 
     use and abuse, and academic failure;
       Whereas research also shows that formal mentoring, aimed at 
     developing the competence and character of the young person, 
     promotes positive outcomes such as improved academic 
     achievement, self-esteem, social skills, and career 
     development;
       Whereas mentoring offers a supportive environment in which 
     young people can grow, expand their vision, and achieve a 
     future that they never thought possible;
       Whereas more than 15,000,000 young people in this Nation 
     still need mentors, falling into a ``mentoring gap'';
       Whereas more than 4,300 mentoring programs in communities 
     of all sizes across the United States focus on building 
     strong, effective relationships between mentors and mentees;
       Whereas public-private mentoring partnerships bring State 
     and local leaders together to support mentoring programs by 
     preventing duplication of efforts, offering training in 
     industry best practices, and helping them make the most of 
     limited resources to benefit the Nation's youth;
       Whereas coordinated national, State, regional, and local 
     efforts continue to need Federal support to allow more youth 
     to be connected with the power of mentoring;
       Whereas several Federal agencies have come together to 
     coordinate approaches to mentoring within the Federal 
     Government through the Federal Mentoring Council and National 
     Mentoring Working Group under the Corporation for National 
     and Community Service;
       Whereas the designation of January 2008 as National 
     Mentoring Month will help call attention to the critical role 
     mentors play in helping young people realize their potential;
       Whereas the month-long celebration of mentoring will 
     encourage more organizations across the United States, 
     including schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith 
     institutions, foundations, and individuals to become engaged 
     in mentoring;
       Whereas National Mentoring Month will, most significantly, 
     build awareness of mentoring and encourage more people to 
     become mentors and help close the Nation's mentoring gap; and
       Whereas the President has issued a proclamation declaring 
     January 2008 to be National Mentoring Month and calling on 
     the people of the United States to recognize the importance 
     of mentoring, to look for opportunities to serve as mentors 
     in their communities, and to observe the month with 
     appropriate activities and programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of January 2008 as ``National 
     Mentoring Month'';
       (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     millions of caring volunteers who already serve as mentors 
     and encourages more individuals to volunteer as mentors; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
     promote the awareness of, and volunteer involvement with, 
     youth mentoring.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join many of my 
colleagues in submitting a resolution recognizing January 2008 as 
National Mentoring Month.
  We all know the extraordinary help and support that a good mentor can 
give to a child. High-quality mentoring programs can make all the 
difference to students in need. They can reduce negative outcomes, and 
help keep children on track. They can reduce drug and substance abuse 
and delinquency. They can enable students to stay in school instead of 
dropping out.
  By promoting such positive outcomes, mentors enable students to 
obtain the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. They 
improve academic achievement, and they also improve self-esteem and 
social and communications skills.
  National Mentoring Month is an opportunity to recognize and commend 
the many mentors across the country who are doing their part. It is 
also an opportunity to raise awareness about the real value of 
mentoring, and encourage more adults to become mentors. Experts 
estimate that nearly 18 million young students could benefit from being 
matched with a mentor, but only about 3 million of these youth are in 
such a relationship today. Fifteen million youth need a mentor--but 
they do not have one.
  Mentoring a young person doesn't just pay off for the youth; it can 
be beneficial for the mentor as well. For the past 12 years, I have 
participated in the Everybody Wins Program at Brent Elementary School 
near the Capitol. Once a week during the school year, I spend an hour 
with an elementary school student. We read together, share stories, and 
learn from each other. This year, my first reading partner is finishing 
high school, and next year she will be starting college. She has stayed 
in touch, and it has been amazing to see her grow.
   Robert Kennedy often spoke of the ripples of hope that people send 
forth each time they act to help others. Mentors are a proven example 
of the power of each citizen to create such ripples, and we should do 
what we can to recognize and support them. I urge the Senate to approve 
this resolution.

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