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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 61 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 61

       Designating January 2007 as ``National Mentoring Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 31, 2007

 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bond, Mr. Burr, 
 Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mr. 
 Grassley, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, 
   Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Specter) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
       Designating January 2007 as ``National Mentoring Month''.

Whereas mentoring is a long-standing tradition with modern applications in which 
        an adult provides guidance, support, and encouragement to help with a 
        young person's social, emotional, and cognitive development;
Whereas research provides strong evidence that mentoring can promote positive 
        outcomes for young people, such as an increased sense of industry and 
        competency, a boost in academic performance and self-esteem, and 
        improved social and communications skills;
Whereas studies of mentoring further show that a quality mentoring relationship 
        successfully reduces the incidence of risky behaviors, delinquency, 
        absenteeism, and academic failure;
Whereas mentoring is a frequently used term and a well-accepted practice in many 
        sectors of our society;
Whereas thanks to the remarkable creativity, vigor, and resourcefulness of the 
        thousands of mentoring programs and millions of volunteer mentors in 
        communities throughout the Nation, quality mentoring has grown 
        dramatically in the past 15 years, and there are now 3,000,000 young 
        people in the United States who are being mentored;
Whereas in spite of the strides made in the mentoring field, the Nation has a 
        serious ``mentoring gap,'' with nearly 15,000,000 young people currently 
        in need of mentors;
Whereas a recent study confirmed that one of the most critical challenges that 
        mentoring programs face is recruiting enough mentors to help close the 
        mentoring gap;
Whereas the designation of January 2007 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 Nation, including schools, businesses, 
        nonprofit organizations and faith institutions, foundations, and 
        individuals to become engaged in mentoring;
Whereas National Mentoring Month will, most importantly, build awareness of 
        mentoring and encourage more individuals to become mentors, helping 
        close the Nation's mentoring gap; and
Whereas the President has issued a proclamation declaring January 2007 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 2007 as ``National 
        Mentoring Month'';
            (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
        millions of caring adults who are already serving as mentors 
        and encourages more adults to volunteer as mentors; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
        promote awareness of, and volunteer involvement with, youth 
        mentoring.
                                 <all>
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