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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 430 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 430

       Designating January 2008 as ``National Mentoring Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 25, 2008

 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Burr, 
  Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Isakson, 
 Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. 
   Lincoln, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Specter) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
       Designating January 2008 as ``National Mentoring Month''.

Whereas youth mentoring establishes a structured and trusting relationship that 
        brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, 
        support, and encouragement;
Whereas a growing body of mentoring research provides strong evidence of success 
        in reducing delinquency, substance use and abuse, and academic failure;
Whereas research also shows that formal mentoring, aimed at developing the 
        competence and character of the young person, promotes positive outcomes 
        such as improved academic achievement, self-esteem, social skills, and 
        career development;
Whereas mentoring offers a supportive environment in which young people can 
        grow, expand their vision, and achieve a future that they never thought 
        possible;
Whereas more than 15,000,000 young people in this Nation still need mentors, 
        falling into a ``mentoring gap'';
Whereas more than 4,300 mentoring programs in communities of all sizes across 
        the United States focus on building strong, effective relationships 
        between mentors and mentees;
Whereas public-private mentoring partnerships bring State and local leaders 
        together to support mentoring programs by preventing duplication of 
        efforts, offering training in industry best practices, and helping them 
        make the most of limited resources to benefit the Nation's youth;
Whereas coordinated national, State, regional, and local efforts continue to 
        need Federal support to allow more youth to be connected with the power 
        of mentoring;
Whereas several Federal agencies have come together to coordinate approaches to 
        mentoring within the Federal Government through the Federal Mentoring 
        Council and National Mentoring Working Group under the Corporation for 
        National and Community Service;
Whereas the designation of January 2008 as National Mentoring Month will help 
        call attention to the critical role mentors play in helping young people 
        realize their potential;
Whereas the month-long celebration of mentoring will encourage more 
        organizations across the United States, including schools, businesses, 
        nonprofit organizations, faith institutions, foundations, and 
        individuals to become engaged in mentoring;
Whereas National Mentoring Month will, most significantly, build awareness of 
        mentoring and encourage more people to become mentors and help close the 
        Nation's mentoring gap; and
Whereas the President has issued a proclamation declaring January 2008 to be 
        National Mentoring Month and calling on the people of the United States 
        to recognize the importance of mentoring, to look for opportunities to 
        serve as mentors in their communities, and to observe the month with 
        appropriate activities and programs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of January 2008 as ``National 
        Mentoring Month'';
            (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
        millions of caring volunteers who already serve as mentors and 
        encourages more individuals to volunteer as mentors; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
        promote the awareness of, and volunteer involvement with, youth 
        mentoring.
                                 <all>
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