[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S448-S449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 335--DESIGNATING JANUARY 2014 AS ``NATIONAL MENTORING 
                                MONTH''

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Isakson, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Carper, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Scott, Ms. Warren, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cochran, 
and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 335

       Whereas the goals of National Mentoring Month are to raise 
     awareness of mentoring, recruit individuals to volunteer as 
     mentors, and encourage organizations to engage and integrate 
     quality mentoring into their efforts;
       Whereas mentoring is a longstanding tradition in which a 
     dependable, caring adult provides guidance, support, and 
     encouragement to facilitate the social, emotional, and 
     cognitive development of a young person;
       Whereas a mentor is a caring, consistent presence who 
     devotes time to a young person to help that young person 
     discover personal strength and achieve their potential 
     through a structured and trusting relationship;
       Whereas research on mentoring shows that formal, high-
     quality mentoring programs focused on developing the 
     competence and character of mentees promote positive 
     outcomes, such as improved academic achievement, self-esteem, 
     social skills, and career development;
       Whereas research shows that young people who are matched 
     with a caring adult through a quality mentoring program are 
     46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs, 27 percent less 
     likely to start drinking, 52 percent less likely to skip 
     school, 37 percent less likely to skip class, and are more 
     trusting of their parents or guardians;
       Whereas more than 5,000 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 formal mentoring relationships due to the 
     remarkable vigor, creativity, and resourcefulness of the 
     thousands of mentoring programs in communities throughout the 
     United States;
       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, in 2012, 399,546 children were in foster care in 
     the United States, many of whom were without a mentor and 
     26,000 of whom ``aged out'' of foster care by reaching 
     adulthood without being placed in a permanent home;
       Whereas mentor programs that serve foster children are 
     unique and require additional considerations, including 
     specialized training and support necessary to provide for 
     consistent, meaningful, and long-term relationships for 
     children in foster care;
       Whereas mentoring is a proven cost-effective investment;
       Whereas for every dollar invested in mentoring, there is a 
     3 dollar return to society;
       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 2014 as ``National 
     Mentoring Month'' will call attention to the critical role 
     mentors play in helping young people realize their potential; 
     and
       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 
     and close the mentoring gap in the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of January 2014 as ``National 
     Mentoring Month'';
       (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     millions of caring adults and students who are already 
     serving as mentors and encourages more adults and students to 
     volunteer as mentors;
       (3) supports the goals of mentoring to increase educational 
     achievement, reduce juvenile delinquency, and improve life 
     outcomes for mentees; and
       (4) promotes the creation and expansion of quality 
     mentoring programs across the country to equip more young 
     people with the

[[Page S449]]

     tools needed to lead healthy and productive lives.

                          ____________________