[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1745-1746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 25--DESIGNATING JANUARY 2003 AS ``NATIONAL MENTORING 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. 
Brownback, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Specter, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
Cochran, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Allen, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. 
Akaka, Mr. Dodd, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 25

       Whereas mentors serve as role models, advocates, friends, 
     and advisors to youth in need;
       Whereas numerous studies and research document that mentors 
     help youth augment social skills and emotional well-being, 
     improve cognitive skills, and plan for the future;
       Whereas, for some youth, having a caring adult mentor to 
     turn to for guidance and encouragement can make the crucial 
     difference between success and failure in life;

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       Whereas 17,600,000 youth, nearly half the youth population, 
     want or need mentors to help them reach their full potential.
       Whereas there exists a large ``mentoring gap'' of unmet 
     needs, as evidenced by the fact that just 2,500,000 youth are 
     in formal mentoring relationships, leaving 15,000,000 youth 
     still in need of mentors;
       Whereas the celebration of National Mentoring Month will 
     institutionalize the Nation's commitment to mentoring and 
     raise awareness of mentoring in various forms;
       Whereas a month-long focus on mentoring will tap into the 
     vast pool of potential mentors and motivate adults to take 
     action to help a youth;
       Whereas National Mentoring Month will encourage 
     organizations of all kinds--businesses, faith communities, 
     government agencies, schools, and other organizations--to 
     engage their constituents in mentoring; and
       Whereas the celebration of that month would above all 
     encourage more people to volunteer as mentors, to the benefit 
     of the Nation's youth: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of January 2003 as ``National 
     Mentoring Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities that promote awareness of and volunteer 
     involvement with youth mentoring.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege today to join my 
colleagues in submitting a resolution recognizing January 2003 as 
National Mentoring Month. Business, community and media leaders have 
formed a coalition to raise public awareness about the importance of 
taking time to make a real difference in the life of a child.
  Under the impressive leadership of the National Mentoring Partnership 
and the Harvard School of Public Health, the coalition is sponsoring an 
advertising campaign to explain the benefits of mentoring for children 
and mentors alike: Each of us has had adults who have made a positive 
difference for us, family, teachers, coaches, clergy, neighbors or 
caring friends who were there to listen and offer guidance. Each of us 
has the opportunity to offer that same gift to young persons today.
  Each week with many of my colleagues in the Senate, I read with an 
elementary school student in the District of Columbia in the Everybody 
Wins program. During our lunchtime sessions, my first grade partner and 
I share good books and stories. Whether mentors choose reading programs 
or some other activity, these times are dedicated to listening and 
responding to the child's needs. Mentors have busy lives, and every 
child needs to know that we can make time for them.
  In States across this country there are long lists of young persons 
waiting for mentors. This important project will connect new mentors to 
these waiting children, and enhance the quality of their lives. I urge 
the Senate to approve it.

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