[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAYS
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 493, submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 493) designating April 23 through 25,
2010, as ``Global Youth Service Days.''
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be
printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 493) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
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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