[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 493--DESIGNATING APRIL 23 THROUGH 25, 2010, AS 
                     ``GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAYS''

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Begich, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. 
Hagan, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Gregg, Mr. LeMieux, Mr. Burr, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cardin, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Isakson, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 493

       Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an annual campaign 
     that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and 
     youths who improve their communities each day through 
     community service and service-learning programs;
       Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Days are--
       (1) to mobilize and support young people to identify and 
     address the needs of their communities, schools, and 
     organizations; and
       (2) to provide opportunities for--
          (A) youth engagement; and
          (B) the public, the media, and policymakers to recognize 
     and raise awareness of young people as assets and resources;
       Whereas Global Youth Service Days, a program of Youth 
     Service America, is the largest service event in the world 
     and the only service event dedicated to youth engagement;
       Whereas, in 2010, Global Youth Service Days is being 
     observed for the 22nd consecutive year in the United States 
     and, in more than 100 countries, for the 11th year globally;
       Whereas Global Youth Service Days engages millions of young 
     people worldwide with the support of more than 200 national 
     and international partners, 85 State and local lead agencies, 
     and thousands of local partners;
       Whereas high quality community service and service-learning 
     programs--
       (1) increase the academic engagement and achievement of 
     young people;
       (2) prepare young people for the workforce; and
       (3) provide young people with the skills necessary to 
     achieve success in the 21st century;
       Whereas community service and service-learning programs 
     provide opportunities for young people to apply their 
     knowledge, idealism, energy, creativity, and unique 
     perspectives to solving critical issues, including health, 
     childhood obesity, education, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, 
     the environment, violence, and natural disasters;
       Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an opportunity for 
     citizen diplomacy that increases intercultural understanding 
     and promotes the sense that youths are global citizens, as 
     evidenced by the growing number of projects that involve 
     youths working collaboratively across borders to address 
     global issues;
       Whereas thousands of participants in schools and community-
     based organizations are planning Global Youth Service Days 
     activities as a part of Semester of Service, a program that 
     includes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, in which 
     young people spend the semester addressing meaningful 
     community needs connected to intentional learning goals or 
     academic standards over at least 70 hours;
       Whereas thousands of youth volunteers learn, create, and 
     implement innovative solutions to global issues on Global 
     Youth Service Days through ``Get Ur Good On,'' an online 
     network of youths supporting each other in the mission to do 
     good works in their communities;
       Whereas Global Youth Service Days provides young children, 
     teenagers, and young adults with an opportunity to contribute 
     their abilities and talents as active citizens and community 
     leaders;
       Whereas Global Youth Service Days provides schools, 
     community organizations, faith-based organizations, 
     government agencies, businesses, and families with an 
     opportunity to engage youths as leaders and problem solvers; 
     and
       Whereas section 198(g) of the National and Community 
     Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653(g)) recognizes Global 
     Youth Service Days as national days of service and calls on 
     the Corporation for National and Community Service, other 
     Federal agencies and departments, and the President of the 
     United States to recognize and support youth-led activities 
     on the designated days: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions 
     of the youths of the United States and encourages the 
     cultivation of a civic bond between young people dedicated to 
     serving their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation;
       (2) designates April 23 through 25, 2010, as ``Global Youth 
     Service Days''; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
     Global Youth Service Days by--
       (A) encouraging youths to participate in community service 
     and service-learning projects;
       (B) recognizing the volunteer efforts of the young people 
     of the United States throughout the year; and
       (C) supporting the volunteer efforts of young people and 
     engaging young people in meaningful community service, 
     service-learning, and decision-making opportunities, as an 
     investment in the future of the United States.

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