Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Mentoring Month

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - February 17, 2006)
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY CUELLAR OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2006

* Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important contributions of mentoring programs such as the One Star Foundation, an initiative established by the State of Texas, and the program HOSTS, Helping One Student to Succeed, in the Laredo Independent School District, which help students who are at risk of failing reading and or math by mentoring them with members of the community, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas program. The National Mentoring Month is important, and it serves as a guide to us in our communities to reach out to youth, to show them there is another way, that they should not give into despair, but instead give into the hope of a better future.

* Every time you reach out and mentor a child, you provide that child with a positive example of what an adult role model should be. Mentoring can be an invaluable resource for single-parent families, and low-income families, and it helps give the children the ability to succeed in school. There are over 156 mentoring programs in the State of Texas, and over 50 mentoring programs in my district working to give hope to children in urban and rural communities. These are excellent examples of how communities should come together to ensure that children have the best chance to succeed in their lives.

* Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to honor the value of H.R. 660, which supports the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month.

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