[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4846-4847]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL AND GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 422, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 422) designating April 21, 2006, as 
     National and Global Youth Service Day, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to support a resolution 
designating April 21, 2006, as National and Global Youth Service Day. 
This resolution recognizes and commends the significant community 
service efforts that youth are making in communities across the country 
and around the world on April 21 and every day. This resolution also 
encourages the citizens of the United States to acknowledge and support 
these volunteer efforts.
  National and Global Youth Service Day is an annual public awareness 
and education campaign that highlights the valuable contributions that 
young people make to their communities throughout the year. On this 
day, youth from across the United States and the world will carry out 
community service projects in areas ranging from hunger to literacy to 
the environment. Through this service, many will

[[Page 4847]]

embark on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement in more than 
100 countries around the world.
  In Alaska, the following groups will engage youth in community 
service activities in observance of National and Global Youth Service 
Day:

       One, Anchorage's Promise, which works to mobilize all 
     sectors of the community to build the character and 
     competence of Anchorage's children and youth by fulfilling 
     Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, Healthy Start, 
     Equitable Education for Marketable Skills, and Opportunities 
     to Serve, is sponsoring the annual Kids' Day event. Over 20 
     interactive exhibits will be staffed by youth, including 
     booths where young people can see how easily an egg cracks 
     without wearing a seatbelt, discover why bike helmets are 
     important, and see just how clean their hands really are.
       Two, eighth graders from the Neon Team at Goldenview Middle 
     School in Anchorage are creating colorful cards with spring-
     themed haiku poems. At least 120 students will donate cards 
     to social service agencies, hospitals, and community support 
     organizations throughout Anchorage. The purpose of this 
     project is to spread Springtime cheer to those in the 
     Anchorage community who may not otherwise experience a joyful 
     Spring.
       Three, members of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a 
     statewide youth organization associated with the National 
     Wildlife Federation, are developing a project to inform and 
     involve youth in the use of energy efficient light bulbs. 
     Young people throughout the State will petition their local 
     communities for support and will encourage the use of energy 
     efficient light bulbs.

  Many similar and wonderful activities will be taking place all across 
the Nation.
  I thank my colleagues--Senators Akaka, Allen, Baucus, Bayh, Boxer, 
Bunning, Burr, Cantwell, Clinton, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Cornyn, 
Craig, Dodd, Dole, Domenici, Dorgan, Durbin, Feingold, Feinstein, 
Hagel, Isakson, Johnson, Kennedy, Kerry, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Levin, 
Lieberman, Lott, Martinez, Menendez, Mikulski, Murray, Nelson of 
Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Salazar, Santorum, Snowe, Specter, 
Stabenow, and Stevens--for standing with me as original cosponsors of 
this worthwhile legislation, which will ensure that youth across the 
country and the world know that all of their hard work is greatly 
appreciated.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 422) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 422

       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day is an annual 
     public awareness and education campaign that highlights the 
     valuable contributions that young people make to their 
     communities throughout the year;
       Whereas the goals of National and Global Youth Service Day 
     are to--
       (1) mobilize the youth of the United States to identify and 
     address the needs of their communities through service and 
     service-learning;
       (2) encourage young citizens to embark on a lifelong path 
     of service and civic engagement; and
       (3) educate the public, the media, and policymakers about 
     contributions made by young people as community leaders 
     throughout the year;
       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, a program of 
     Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the 
     world and is being observed for the 18th consecutive year in 
     2006;
       Whereas young people in the United States and in many other 
     countries are volunteering more than any other generation in 
     history;
       Whereas the children and youth of the United States not 
     only represent the future of the Nation, but also are leaders 
     and assets today;
       Whereas the children and youth of the United States should 
     be valued for the idealism, energy, creativity, and unique 
     perspective that they use when addressing challenges found in 
     their communities;
       Whereas a fundamental and conclusive correlation exists 
     between youth service, lifelong adult volunteering, and 
     philanthropy;
       Whereas through community service, young people of all ages 
     and backgrounds build character and learn valuable skills 
     sought by employers, including time management, decision-
     making, teamwork, needs-assessment, and leadership;
       Whereas service-learning, an innovative teaching method 
     that combines community service with curriculum-based 
     learning, increases student achievement while strengthening 
     civic responsibility;
       Whereas several private foundations and corporations in the 
     United States support service-learning because they 
     understand that educated, civically-engaged communities tend 
     to be economically prosperous and good places to do business;
       Whereas sustained investments by the Federal Government, 
     business partners, schools, and communities fuel the 
     positive, long-term cultural change that will make service 
     and service-learning a common expectation and a common 
     experience for all young people;
       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day, with the 
     support of 51 lead agencies, hundreds of grant winners, and 
     thousands of local partners, engages millions of young people 
     worldwide;
       Whereas National and Global Youth Service Day will involve 
     38 international organizations and 110 national partners, 
     including 8 Federal agencies and 6 organizations that offer 
     grants to support National and Global Youth Service Day;
       Whereas National Youth Service Day has inspired Global 
     Youth Service Day, which occurs concurrently in more than 100 
     countries and is now in its 7th year; and
       Whereas both young people and their communities will 
     benefit greatly from expanded opportunities to engage the 
     youth of the United States in meaningful volunteer service 
     and service-learning: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions 
     of United States youth and encourages the cultivation of a 
     common civic bond between young people dedicated to serving 
     their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation;
       (2) designates April 21, 2006, as ``National and Global 
     Youth Service Day''; and
       (3) calls on the citizens of the United States to--
       (A) observe the day by encouraging and engaging youth to 
     participate in civic and community service projects;
       (B) recognize the volunteer efforts of the young people of 
     the United States throughout the year; and
       (C) support the volunteer efforts of young people and 
     engage them in meaningful decision-making opportunities today 
     as an investment for the future of the United States.

                          ____________________