III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 421 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Guard Youth Challenge Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 24, 2010 

Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, 

Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BYRD, Mr. ISAKSON, and Mr. 

BENNETT) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Guard Youth 

Challenge Day’’. 

Whereas ‘‘National Guard Youth Challenge Day’’ will be celebrated on February 24, 2010; 

Whereas high school dropouts need guidance, encouragement, 

and avenues toward self-sufficiency and success; 

Whereas over 1,300,000 students drop out of high school 

each year, costing this Nation more than 

$335,000,000,000 in lost wages, revenues, and productivity over the lifetimes of these individuals; 

Whereas the life expectancy for a high school dropout is 9 

years less than that of a high school graduate, and a high 

school dropout can expect to earn about $19,000 each 

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•SRES 421 ATS 

year, compared to approximately $28,000 for a high 

school graduate; 

Whereas 54 percent of high school dropouts were jobless during an average month in 2008, with 40 percent having 

no job for the entire year; 

Whereas each annual class of high school dropouts cost this 

Nation over $17,000,000,000 in publicly subsidized 

health care over the course of their lives; 

Whereas approximately 90 percent of individuals in prisons 

throughout the United States are high school dropouts; 

Whereas the goal of the National Guard Youth Foundation, 

a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to improve the 

education, life skills, and employment potential of high 

school dropouts in the United States through public 

awareness, scholarships, higher education assistance, and 

job development programs; 

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program provides military-based training, supervised work experience, 

assistance in obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent degree, and development of leadership qualities, as 

well as promotion of citizenship, fellowship, service to 

their community, life skills training, health and physical 

education, positive relationships with adults and peers, 

and career planning; 

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program represents a successful joint effort between States and the 

Federal Government; 

Whereas since 1993, the National Guard Youth Challenge 

Program has developed 32 programs in 27 States and 

Puerto Rico; 

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Whereas since 1993, over 92,850 young individuals have successfully graduated from the program, with 80 percent 

earning their high school diploma or GED certificate, 24 

percent going to college, 18 percent joining the military, 

and 57 percent entering the workforce with career jobs; 

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program has 

successfully helped high school dropouts in this Nation; 

and 

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program can 

play a larger role in providing assistance to the youth of 

the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

3 Guard Youth Challenge Day’’; and 

4 (2) calls upon the people of the United States 

5 to observe ‘‘National Guard Youth Challenge Day’’ 

6 on February 24, 2010, with appropriate ceremonies 

7 and respect. 

Æ 

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