[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 133--HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL 
                     GUARD YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM

  Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Risch, Mr. Daines, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Tester, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                              S. Res. 133

       Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Youth Challenge 
     Program'') is celebrating 30 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\1/
     2\-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 there is now an optional fifth phase of the Youth 
     Challenge Program called Job Challenge, in which Youth 
     Challenge Program graduates under the age of 21 years old can 
     pursue in-demand job certifications;
       Whereas the Youth Challenge Program offers more than 8,000 
     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 200,000 cadets have graduated from the 
     Youth Challenge Program;
       Whereas more than 184,000 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 30 
     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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