H. Res. 353 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 5, 2009. 

Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an annual public 

awareness and education campaign that highlights the 

valuable contributions that young people make to their 

communities year-round; 

Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Days are to— 

(1) mobilize the youth of the United States to identify and address the needs of their communities through 

community service and service-learning opportunities; 

(2) support young people in embarking on a lifelong 

path of volunteer 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 Global Youth Service Days, a program of Youth 

Service America, is the largest service event in the world 

and in 2009 is being observed for the 21st consecutive 

year in the United States and for the 10th year in more 

than 100 countries; 

Whereas young people in the United States and in many 

other countries are providing more volunteer service to 

their communities than in any other generation in history, thereby demonstrating that children and youth not 
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only represent the future of the world, but are also leaders and assets today; 

Whereas recent research shows that high quality, semesterlong service-learning, when used as a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with academic curriculum, increases students’ cognitive engagement, motivation to learn, school attendance, and academic achievement scores; 

Whereas a fundamental and conclusive correlation exists between youth service, character development, lifelong adult 

volunteering, philanthropy, and other forms of civic engagement; 

Whereas community service and service-learning provide opportunities for youth to apply their knowledge, idealism, 

energy, creativity, and unique perspectives to improve 

local communities by addressing critical issues such as 

poverty, hunger, illiteracy, education, natural disasters, 

climate change, and many others; 

Whereas a growing number of Global Youth Service Days 

projects involve youth working collaboratively across national boundaries to address global issues, to increase 

intercultural understanding, and to promote the sense 

that they are global citizens; 

Whereas Global Youth Service Day engages millions of young 

people worldwide with the support of 50 International 

Coordinating Committee member organizations, over 150 

U.S. National Partners, 75 local and statewide Global 

Youth Services Days lead agencies, and thousands of 

local organizers; and 

Whereas both young people and their communities will benefit greatly from expanded opportunities for youth to en-
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gage in volunteer community service and service-learning: 

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 

Services Days 2009; and 

(3) calls on the citizens of the United States to— 

(A) observe the day by encouraging youth to 

participate community service and service-learning 

projects and by joining them in such 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 community service, service-learning, and decision-making opportunities today as an investment in the future of the 

United States. 

Attest: 

Clerk.