Recognizing National Mentoring Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize January as National Mentoring Month, when we volunteer our time to provide support and guidance for our Nation's young people so they are better equipped to tackle personal and professional challenges.

A good mentor could be a friend, a family member, a boss, or a school counselor. Effective counseling prior to graduation can assist students in making better informed decisions about their educational options and career prospects.

That is why Congressman Jim Langevin and I introduced the Counseling for Career Choice Act. Despite a great deal of money being invested to improve education, very little has been spent to address career development specifically. This bill authorizes a grant program to give States and local education agencies access to current counseling programs or the means to implement new counseling frameworks.

Additionally, the bill provides resources to ensure counselors can support their students to the best of their abilities. When we equip students with the tools that they need to succeed, they embark on educational journeys that lead to rewarding careers.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join Congressman Langevin and I in support of H.R. 5092, the Counseling for Career Choice Act.

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