[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2582-S2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAYS

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I wish to speak about a resolution 
designating April 23 through 25, 2010, as ``Global Youth Service 
Days.'' S. Res. 493 recognizes and commends the significant community 
service efforts that youth are making in communities across the country 
and around the world on the last weekend in April and every day. This 
resolution also encourages the citizens of the United States to 
acknowledge and support these volunteer efforts. S. Res. 493 passed the 
Senate by unanimous consent on April 20, 2010. This sends a very strong 
message of support to the thousands of youth across our great Nation 
who contribute positively to their communities--your efforts are 
recognized and appreciated.
  Beginning this Friday, April 23, youth from across the United States 
and around the world will carry out community service projects in areas 
ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. Through this 
service, many will embark on a lifelong path of service and civic 
engagement.
  This event is not isolated to one weekend a year. Global Youth 
Service Days is an annual public awareness and education campaign that 
highlights the valuable contributions that young people make to their 
communities throughout the year.
  The participation of youth in community service provides an 
opportunity to identify and address the needs of their communities and 
make positive differences in the world around them, learn leadership, 
organizational skills, and gain insights into the problems of their 
fellow citizens.
  High-quality service-learning activities help young people make 
important connections between the school curriculum and the challenges 
they see in their communities. Youth who are engaged in volunteer 
service and service-learning activities do better in school than their 
classmates who do not volunteer are also more likely to avoid risky 
behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse. Service within the community 
contributes positively to young people's character development, civic 
participation, and philanthropic activity as adults.
  It is important, therefore, that the Senate encourage youth to engage 
in community service and to congratulate them for the service they 
provide.
  In an effort to recognize and support youth volunteers in my State, I 
am proud to acknowledge some of the activities that will occur this 
year in Alaska in observance of National and Global Youth Service Days:
  Anchorage's Promise, which works to mobilize all sectors of the 
community to build the character and competence of Anchorage's children 
and youth, has sponsored the annual KidsDay events in Anchorage again 
this year. Youth provided significant service to their peers and to 
adults who attended KidsDay activities:
  The Spirit of Youth Teen Action Council's Herb Project provided youth 
with the task of building organic hanging gardens for local elders who 
are unable to get out and garden this year. The Alaska Botanical Garden 
also supported this project with important tips about the benefits of 
starting your own garden at home.
  Operation Support Our Soldiers, SOS, made cards for our military 
deployed overseas to show support and appreciation for the sacrifice 
that these brave men and women make every day.
  The Alaska Teen Media Institute also participated in the day 
interviewing youth and giving tips on media production.
  Teen volunteers from Anchorage conducted surveys of youth attending 
the 2010 KidsDay and also surveyed vendor booths regarding volunteer 
and employment opportunities.
  Chugiak High School Junior ROTC assisted Anchorage's Promise this 
year at KidsDay by providing security to protect children.
  In addition to the KidsDay events, young people from every region of 
Alaska will serve their communities in the following ways:
  The Juneau Alaska Youth for Environmental Action has been working 
with the Juneau-Douglas High School Food Services, to transition from 
plastic disposable silverware to reusable metal silverware.
  SAGA Juneau will be working in coordination with the Juneau School 
District to provide volunteer opportunities to youth.
  Members of the Chugiak Family Career and Community Leaders of America 
coordinated four activities to earn funds for the Malowi Children's 
Village. They raised $560 for mosquito bed nets which will buy 260 nets 
to protect children from deadly insect bites.
  Anchorage Boy Scout troops teamed up with local supermarkets in order 
to collect food for the homeless.
  The Music Canvas in Anchorage offered a free sing-a-long class for 
families with young children.
  Shishmaref Village led a trip with skilled hunters to teach the youth 
traditional hunting and survival tactics.
  An ongoing project from the students at the Alaska Teen Media 
Institute involves production of a public affairs radio show on KNBA 
90.3 FM Anchorage. ``In Other News'' airs the last Saturday of the 
month and features news and views from the teen perspective.
  Teens of Covenant House Alaska will be partnering with Abundant Life 
Generation to outreach to women and children in Nepal that have 
experienced sexual exploitation from human trafficking.
  Homer residents helped clean the city. Cash prizes were awarded to 
the top three ``trash collectors,'' and over 650 bags of trash were 
collected.
  Over 750 volunteers joined together in Soldotna to help rebuild the 
local playgrounds in the city.
  Cadets from the North Pole High School Air Force Junior ROTC 
collected donations and helped out the Alaska Blood Bank in Fairbanks.
  Teen volunteers in Anchorage helped prepare materials for the annual 
summer reading celebration.
  Youth assisted Anchorage's Promise with getting the meaning behind 
the five promises out into the community.
  The Alaska Food Bank offered a volunteer opportunity to help the Boy 
Scouts of America sort out their donations from this year's Scouting 
for Food Drive.
  Thousands of youth volunteers gathered to help clean up the 
neighborhoods of Anchorage.
  The Alaska High School Challenge sponsored by the Blood Bank of 
Alaska increases awareness in the community about the importance of 
donating blood and allows high schools to compete with one another for 
recognition of saving the most lives in Alaska.
  The PANIC/Mountaineer Sports Program cleaned and painted the Mount 
View Community Center Boys and Girls Club.
  Sterling Community Club youth helped to salvage road kill moose in 
order to feed hungry community members.
  Boys and Girls Club youth were instructed on bike safety.
  Eagle River Boys and Girls Club helped to show support for troops by 
making care packages during the holidays.
  Port Graham School students partnered up with elders in the community 
to learn more about traditional knowledge and cultural importance.
  Wrangell youth worked with the Women in Safe Homes project and 
AmeriCorps members to create artwork for the Wrangell Medical Center.
  Youth Group of Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship made and 
distributed Easter baskets to homeless youth.
  Students at Barry Craig Stewart Kassan School were involved in a week 
of activities that focused on building skills such as teamwork and 
communication.
  Students at Tok School were given the opportunity to ``adopt'' a 
person whom they found to be a positive influence on their lives.
  Eagle River Lion's Club teamed up with youth to provide an Easter egg 
hunt for the community.
  The community of Dillingham joined together to celebrate the 
achievements of local youth and elders.
  Students with the Yakutat High National Honor Society held a 
community health fair.
  Meterviit Youth Action Group in New Stuyahok held an event to discuss

[[Page S2583]]

environmental issues the village should address for the future.
  Tri-Valley Community Library and the After School Yearbook Club at 
Healy school celebrated the 40th anniversary of the local school.
  Mr. President, I am so proud of all of these young people. I value 
their idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspectives as they 
volunteer to make their communities better and assist those in need.
  Many similarly wonderful activities will be taking place all across 
the Nation. I encourage all of my colleagues to visit the Youth Service 
America Web site--www.ysa.org_to find out about the selfless and 
creative youth who are contributing in their own States this year.
  I thank my colleagues--Senators Akaka, Bayh, Begich, Bingaman, Burr, 
Cardin, Cochran, Collins, Dodd, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Gregg, Hagan, 
Isakson, Klobuchar, Landrieu, Lautenberg, LeMieux, Lieberman, Lincoln, 
Menendez, Mikulski, Murray, Ben Nelson, Stabenow, and Mark Udall--for 
standing with me as original cosponsors of this worthwhile resolution 
which will ensure that youth across the country and the world know that 
all of their hard work is greatly appreciated.

                          ____________________