National and Global Youth Service Day

NATIONAL AND GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

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Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to support a resolution designating April 21, 2006, as National and Global Youth Service Day. This resolution recognizes and commends the significant community service efforts that youth are making in communities across the country and around the world on April 21 and every day. This resolution also encourages the citizens of the United States to acknowledge and support these volunteer efforts.

National and Global Youth Service Day is an annual public awareness and education campaign that highlights the valuable contributions that young people make to their communities throughout the year. On this day, youth from across the United States and the world will carry out community service projects in areas ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. Through this service, many will embark on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement in more than 100 countries around the world.

In Alaska, the following groups will engage youth in community service activities in observance of National and Global Youth Service Day:

One, Anchorage's Promise, which works to mobilize all sectors of the community to build the character and competence of Anchorage's children and youth by fulfilling Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, Healthy Start, Equitable Education for Marketable Skills, and Opportunities to Serve, is sponsoring the annual Kids' Day event. Over 20 interactive exhibits will be staffed by youth, including booths where young people can see how easily an egg cracks without wearing a seatbelt, discover why bike helmets are important, and see just how clean their hands really are.

Two, eighth graders from the Neon Team at Goldenview Middle School in Anchorage are creating colorful cards with spring-themed haiku poems. At least 120 students will donate cards to social service agencies, hospitals, and community support organizations throughout Anchorage. The purpose of this project is to spread Springtime cheer to those in the Anchorage community who may not otherwise experience a joyful Spring.

Three, members of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a statewide youth organization associated with the National Wildlife Federation, are developing a project to inform and involve youth in the use of energy efficient light bulbs. Young people throughout the State will petition their local communities for support and will encourage the use of energy efficient light bulbs.

Many similar and wonderful activities will be taking place all across the Nation.

I thank my colleagues--Senators AKAKA, ALLEN, BAUCUS, BAYH, BOXER, BUNNING, BURR, CANTWELL, CLINTON, COCHRAN, COLEMAN, COLLINS, CORNYN, CRAIG, DODD, DOLE, DOMENICI, DORGAN, DURBIN, FEINGOLD, FEINSTEIN, HAGEL, ISAKSON, JOHNSON, KENNEDY, KERRY, LANDRIEU, LAUTENBERG, LEVIN, LIEBERMAN, LOTT, MARTINEZ, MENENDEZ, MIKULSKI, MURRAY, NELSON of Florida, NELSON of Nebraska, SALAZAR, SANTORUM, SNOWE, SPECTER, STABENOW, and STEVENS--for standing with me as original cosponsors of this worthwhile legislation, which will ensure that youth across the country and the world know that all of their hard work is greatly appreciated.

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