H. Res. 1240 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

April 27, 2010. 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign 

that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and 

youth who improve their communities each day of the 

year through community service and service-learning; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day will be celebrated from 

April 23, 2010, to April 25, 2010; 

Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Day are to mobilize and support young people to identify and address the 

needs of their communities, schools, and organizations, to 

provide opportunities for youth engagement, and the public, the media, and policymakers to recognize and raise 

awareness of young people as assets and resources; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth 

Service America, is the largest service event in the world, 

the only day of service dedicated to youth engagement, 

and in 2010 is being observed for the 22nd consecutive 

year in the United States and for the 11th year globally 

in more than 100 countries; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day engages millions of young 

people worldwide with the support of more than 200 National and International Partners, 85 State and local 

Lead Agencies, and thousands of local partners; 
2 

•HRES 1240 EH 

Whereas high quality community service and service-learning 

programs increase young people’s academic engagement 

and achievement, workforce readiness, 21st century skills, 

and civic knowledge and engagement; 

Whereas community service and service-learning provide opportunities for young people to apply their knowledge, 

idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspectives to 

improve their communities by addressing a myriad of 

critical issues, such as health, childhood obesity, education, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, environment, climate 

change, violence, and natural disasters; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day is an opportunity for citizen diplomacy, as evidenced by the growing number of 

projects that involve youth working collaboratively across 

borders to address global issues, increasing intercultural 

understanding, and promoting the sense that they are 

global citizens; 

Whereas thousands of participants in schools and communitybased organizations are planning Global Youth Service 

Day activities as part of a Semester of Service in which 

young people spend the semester addressing a community 

need connected to learning goals or academic standards 

over the course of at least 70 hours; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day provides an opportunity 

for young children, teenagers, and young adults, to gain 

experience as active citizens and community leaders, and 

assist schools, community organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, and families; 

and 

Whereas the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act recognizes Global Youth Service Day as a national day of serv-
3 

•HRES 1240 EH 

ice and calls on the President to encourage people of the 

United States to observe the day with appropriate youthled community improvement and service-learning activities: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions of youth of the United States and encourages 

the cultivation of a civic bond between young people 

dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, 

and the Nation; 

(2) supports the goals and ideals of Global Youth 

Service Day; and 

(3) calls on the people of the United States to observe Global Youth Service Day by— 

(A) encouraging youth to participate in community service and service-learning projects and 

joining their peers in such projects; 

(B) recognizing the volunteer efforts of the 

young people of the United States throughout the 

year; and 

(C) supporting the volunteer efforts of young 

people and engaging them in meaningful community 

service, service-learning, and decision-making oppor-
4 

•HRES 1240 EH 

tunities as an investment in the future of the 

United States. 

Attest: 

Clerk.