[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD YOUTH CHALLENGE 
                                PROGRAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Armed 
Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
424 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 424) honoring the 25th anniversary of 
     the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 
agreed to, that the Baldwin amendment to the preamble be considered and 
agreed to, that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and that the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with 
no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 424) was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 4065) was agreed to, as follows

                    (Purpose: To amend the preamble)

       In the seventh whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``10,000'' and insert ``11,000''.
       In the eighth whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``40'' 
     and insert ``39''.
       In the ninth whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``160,000'' and insert ``165,000''.
       In the tenth whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``110,000'' and insert ``116,000''.

  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The Resolution, with it's preamble, as amended as follows:

                              S. Res. 424

       Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Youth Challenge 
     Program'') is celebrating 25 years of providing successful 
     and free alternative education and structured discipline to 
     at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18;
       Whereas the Youth Challenge Program was born from the 
     visionary concept of using a ``whole person'' intervention 
     model to combat the effects of gangs, violence, high rates of 
     school dropout, and drug abuse on a generation of youth;
       Whereas the Youth Challenge Program is a federally and 
     State-funded program that offers a unique opportunity for at-
     risk youth to change course at a critical time in life;
       Whereas the multiphased Youth Challenge Program uses quasi-
     military discipline and training, coupled with educational 
     instruction, learning, and mentorship, to promote the 
     character development and resilience of at-risk youth;
       Whereas one phase of the Youth Challenge Program is a 5-
     month residential program that focuses on the following 8 
     core components: life-coping skills, leadership and 
     followership, service to community, job skills, academic 
     excellence, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, and 
     physical fitness;
       Whereas another phase of the Youth Challenge Program is a 
     12-month mentoring phase that builds on the 8 core components 
     to help shape youth into productive citizens ready for 
     societal success;
       Whereas the Youth Challenge Program offers more than 11,000 
     cadets annually an opportunity to succeed outside of a 
     traditional high school environment;
       Whereas there are currently 39 Youth Challenge programs 
     operating in 28 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas more than 165,000 cadets have graduated from the 
     Youth Challenge Program;
       Whereas more than 116,000 academic credentials have been 
     awarded under the Youth Challenge Program; and
       Whereas graduates of the Youth Challenge Program have 
     improved physically and mentally and are poised to become 
     assets to the communities of the graduates and to the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that the National Guard Youth Challenge 
     Program has been successfully helping at-risk youth for 25 
     years;
       (2) commends the accomplishments of all of the graduates of 
     the National Guard Youth Challenge Program; and
       (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to support--
       (A) the National Guard Youth Challenge Program; and
       (B) the critical mission of the National Guard Youth 
     Challenge Program to help and develop the character of at-
     risk youth in the United States.

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