[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H339-H341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 990) expressing support for designation of 
January 2010 as ``National Mentoring Month''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 990

       Whereas mentoring is a longstanding tradition in which a 
     dependable, caring adult provides guidance, support, and 
     encouragement to facilitate a young person's social, 
     emotional, and cognitive development;
       Whereas continued research on mentoring shows that formal, 
     high-quality mentoring focused on developing the competence 
     and character of the mentee promotes positive outcomes, such 
     as improved academic achievement, self-esteem, social skills, 
     and career development;
       Whereas further research on mentoring provides strong 
     evidence that mentoring successfully reduces substance use 
     and abuse, academic failure, and delinquency;
       Whereas mentoring, in addition to preparing young people 
     for school, work, and life, is extremely rewarding for those 
     serving as mentors;
       Whereas more than 4,700 mentoring programs in communities 
     of all sizes across the United States focus on building 
     strong, effective relationships between mentors and mentees;
       Whereas approximately 3,000,000 young people in the United 
     States are in solid mentoring relationships due to the 
     remarkable vigor, creativity, and resourcefulness of the 
     thousands of mentoring programs in communities throughout the 
     Nation;
       Whereas in spite of the progress made to increase 
     mentoring, the United States has a serious ``mentoring gap'', 
     with nearly 15,000,000 young people in need of mentors;
       Whereas mentoring partnerships between the public and 
     private sectors bring State and local leaders together to 
     support mentoring programs by preventing duplication of 
     efforts, offering training in industry best practices, and 
     making the most of limited resources to benefit young people 
     in the United States;
       Whereas the designation of January 2010 as ``National 
     Mentoring Month'' will help call attention to the critical 
     role mentors play in helping young people realize their 
     potential;
       Whereas a month-long celebration of mentoring will 
     encourage more individuals and organizations, including 
     schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith 
     institutions, and foundations, to become engaged in mentoring 
     across the United States; and
       Whereas National Mentoring Month will, most significantly, 
     build awareness of mentoring and encourage more people to 
     become mentors and help close the mentoring gap in the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
         Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

[[Page H340]]

         (1) supports the designation of ``National Mentoring 
     Month'';
         (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     millions of caring adults and students who are already 
     volunteering as mentors and encourages more adults and 
     students to volunteer as mentors; and
         (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Mentoring Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities that promote awareness of, and volunteer 
     involvement with, youth mentoring.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 
990 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 990, which 
recognizes January as National Mentoring Month. Today we acknowledge 
and thank the millions of caring adults and students who volunteer as 
mentors, and we commend their efforts. National Mentoring Month serves 
as a great opportunity to encourage others to get involved mentoring 
and volunteering their time. Mentors directly improve the lives of 
those who are in need of guidance by providing support, care, and 
encouragement to facilitate a younger person's development in life.
  Research consistently proves, Madam Speaker, that mentors bolster 
academic achievement, self-esteem, social skills, and career 
development. In addition to these positive outcomes, mentoring reduces 
delinquency, substance abuse, and academic failure. Mentoring, whether 
it is for school work or life in general, helps young people realize 
that a better life is attainable, and it helps them to obtain the tools 
they need to succeed.
  Today, there are over 4,700 mentoring programs in communities all 
across the United States serving approximately 3 million young people. 
This country, however, is in need of more mentors to help fill the gap 
and reach the nearly 15 million young people who would benefit from a 
positive, solid mentoring relationship. As a Nation, we must continue 
to encourage volunteers to invest their human capital in our youth. 
Through nonprofit government and private sector partnerships, we can 
expand mentoring.

                              {time}  1430

  The National Mentoring Month is a reminder to reinvest our energy 
towards mentoring relationships. By building awareness on this issue, 
we can encourage more people to serve as mentors.
  Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 990, expressing support 
for the designation of January 2010 as National Mentoring Month, and I 
am glad we are doing it before it's over.
  National Mentoring Month celebrates mentors who are positively 
impacting the lives of people and highlights the need for additional 
mentors to make themselves available for America's youth.
  Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young 
people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support, 
and encouragement, all aimed at developing the confidence and character 
of the mentee.
  A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provides a young person 
with support, counsel, friendship, and positive reinforcement.
  By all estimates, almost 18 million young people--nearly half of the 
population of young people between the ages of 10 and 18--live in 
situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential. 
Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they can make choices 
that not only undermine their futures but, ultimately, the economic and 
social well-being of our Nation.
  Research shows that formal, high-quality mentoring focused on 
developing the competence and character of the mentee promotes positive 
outcomes such as improved academic achievement, self-esteem, career 
development, and social skills. By honoring mentors and mentoring 
programs, we recognize the importance of mentoring programs implemented 
in our local schools and communities. We also draw attention to the 
components of a quality program, including appropriate screening of 
potential mentors and careful matching of youth with adults who have a 
genuine interest in providing guidance and being exemplary role models.
  Today, thanks to the commitment and dedication of mentoring 
advocates, 3 million young people are now enjoying mentoring's many 
benefits through school-based, faith-based, and community 
organizations. It's a six-fold increase in formal mentoring 
relationships since the early 1990s.
  Today we recognize the contribution mentors make to the lives of the 
Nation's youth. The time adults take to serve as a mentor provides 
children and young adults with a positive adult example and support 
system. Adult mentors should be recognized for their contributions and 
efforts, and, therefore, I urge Members to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the sponsor of 
this legislation, the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Congresswoman 
McCollum).
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional 
Mentoring Caucus, I rise today in strong support for designating 
January 2010 as National Mentoring Month. Thank you to Chairman Miller 
and Chairwoman Woolsey for bringing this legislation to the floor. I 
would also like to thank the other chairs in the Mentoring Caucus, Mrs. 
Davis of California and Mr. Rogers of Michigan, who are original 
cosponsors of this legislation.
  We all have an important role to play in the lives of young people 
around us. Our entire community needs to be part of the process in 
shaping young lives to become responsible citizens. When caring adults 
make connections and provide guidance to our youth, it makes a positive 
impact on their lives.
  A local newspaper in Minnesota recently ran an article about the 
enormous difference mentoring makes in someone's life. All of us have 
experienced that personally. For far too many young people and 
children, they just might not have a strong adult presence in their 
lives. Mentors encourage the development of strong characters and 
healthy identities. That's a fact. We have the data to back that up.
  Studies show that young adults who have mentors are less likely to 
experiment with drugs, skip school, or become involved in criminal 
activity; and at the same time, students are more likely to be 
confident, make good grades and graduate from high school and improve 
their self-esteem when they have a mentor. When these students grow up, 
they are more likely to be better parents, better neighbors, in 
general, better citizens.
  Nationally, there is an estimated mentoring gap of 15 million at-risk 
young people who need and who would benefit greatly from a mentor. In 
Minnesota alone, there are more than 250,000 students who fall into 
this gap.
  I sponsored this resolution to help raise awareness of this gap and 
of the many benefits of mentoring for both the mentee and the mentor 
and to encourage more people to volunteer their time and to invest in a 
child's well-being and their future.
  Mentorship does not end with childhood. Whether you're asking a 
neighbor to assist you after you've had your first child or you're 
seeking a person at work or your place of worship to guide you through 
these tough decisions, mentoring benefits people of all ages.
  My life has personally been filled with many mentors from my 
childhood right up until today. Congressman Bruce Vento--whose seat I 
now hold--mentored me from my early days in politics until I decided to 
run for Congress. And you never know where you might find a mentor. 
Many in this Chamber might have been surprised that one of my closest 
mentors was Congressman Henry Hyde from Illinois. He helped me 
understand the history

[[Page H341]]

and the greatness of this institution, and he taught me by example that 
elected officials should always, always respect one another in debate 
and always respect one another especially when we disagree.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to look for opportunities to mentor 
our youth, and they can start by doing that today by voting ``yes'' on 
this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Res. 990, ``Expressing support for designation of January 2010 as 
``National Mentoring Month'' and for other purposes, introduced by my 
distinguished colleague from Minnesota, Representative McCollum. 
``National Mentoring Month,'' since January 2002, has been a national 
initiative and an annual campaign focusing attention on the need of 
mentors to mentees, and to promote youth mentoring with the message 
that, ``If we--individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, 
faith communities, and nonprofits--can work together to increase the 
number of mentors, we assure brighter futures for our young people.'' 
This annual initiative and campaign is spearheaded by the Harvard 
School of Public Health, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and 
Community Service.
  President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State General Colin 
Powell, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Arizona 
Senator John McCain, music producer Quincy Jones, poet Maya Angelou, 
music recording artist Usher, and actor Clint Eastwood, have all 
endorsed the campaigns for National Mentoring Month. A highlight of the 
campaign is the ``Thank You Mentor Day,'' in which mentees thank and 
honor their mentors for their mentorship. Mentees are encouraged to 
reach out to their mentors to express their appreciation. Mentees also 
have the options of posting a tribute to their mentor or mentors on 
WhoMentoredYou.org, to become a mentor in their local communities, and/
or make a financial contribution to a mentoring program.
  Dr. Jay A. Winsten, as associate dean at the Harvard School of Public 
Health stated that, ``Youth mentoring is a highly effective public 
health intervention. Research has shown that programs that rely on 
volunteer mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and 
youth violence, while greatly enhancing a young person's prospects for 
leading a healthy and productive life.'' Mentoring is a long-standing 
tradition where mentors provide guidance, support, encouragement and 
aid in promoting positive outcomes, in the areas of career and social 
development in helping young people realize and reach their full 
potential.
  I agree with Ms. Nicola Goren, the Director of the Corporation, in 
the regard that, ``Our nation's success depends on helping every child 
succeed and reach their full potential in life and that mentoring 
strengthens our nation's economic and social well-being by influencing 
the life choices of young people with a caring adult.''
  More than 4,700 mentoring programs in communities of all sizes across 
the United States focus on building strong relationships and 3,000,000 
young people are in mentoring programs throughout the United States. In 
making January a month-long celebration of mentoring, it will call 
action to the important role and responsibility that all mentors play 
in the shaping of the young people of America, and will encourage more 
individuals and organizations to become engaged in this nationwide 
effort across this great Nation in building awareness of this national 
initiative and campaign for mentorship for our youth. I would like to 
personally encourage all the members of Congress to either become a 
mentor or to encourage a friend or family member today to become a 
mentor, not only for our youth, but for this country.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 990, which recognizes January as National Mentoring Month.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 990.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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