Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day.

Madam Speaker, as a co-sponsor of this resolution, I appreciate the opportunity to offer a statement in support of House Resolution 1202, supporting the goals and ideals of National Guard Youth Challenge Day. I thank my colleague, Mr. Davis from Virginia, for having introduced this resolution so that today we are able to vote on it.

Throughout my career I have had a deep interest in programs that help our youth to develop into good citizens; citizens who will carry our Nation into the future, and citizens who are able to enjoy the satisfaction that comes from realizing their individual potential throughout their lives. It was a little over two years ago that I had my first direct contact with the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. I learned much about the program from meetings here in Washington, DC, where I heard about its 80 percent success rate in participating youth getting a high school diploma or GED. I heard about the success in graduating over 77,000 youth from programs in 30 states and territories. And I learned about the impressive numbers of graduates going on to jobs in the economy, joining the military, or continuing their education.

The statistics are impressive, but the experience that had the greatest impact on me was my visit to the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program in Bend, Oregon. I was truly astounded by the stories that I heard from the young men and women there who found in themselves a desire to change, and made the commitment to the Youth Challenge experience to fundamentally change the direction of their lives. Many of these were youth who might otherwise have resigned themselves to a future of low expectations that could include drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, and dead-end job prospects. But they took a chance on the Youth Challenge program, and through their own commitment and hard work found value, discipline and direction for themselves.

Today, I am pleased to be able to tell my colleagues that the State of Washington is well on its way to establishing a Youth Challenge program of its own. The support from the State government and the community have been absolutely fantastic. Governor Chris Gregoire, our State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, the Adjutant General Tim Lowenberg, and the legislature in Olympia, Washington have been enthusiastically behind this program all the way.

In my home town of Bremerton, Washington, the Superintendent of Schools and the school board have embraced the program and look forward to our program at the Washington Youth Academy making a difference for youth from across the entire state. At the Federal level, the National Guard Bureau has been unwavering in its support of all of the programs across the country, and for starting this new program in the State of Washington.

The great thing about this program is that it sells itself. It just takes coming in contact with the positive energy young men and women in the program and their families to become a believer. By this time next year, I look forward to being able to report to my colleagues that the Washington Youth Academy will have graduated its first class of 150 youth who will be on a fundamentally different and more positive path for the rest of their lives.

Madam Speaker, I take great pleasure in supporting this resolution, and commend the National Guard Youth Challenge Program to the attention of all of my colleagues.

Madam Speaker, I rise to explain my reason for missing votes on July 22 and July 23, 2008. My voting percentage is over 96% for the 110th and I rarely miss votes, but there are certain family events that cannot be missed, and for that reason, I was in Houston for the birth of our newest grandson. I am proud to report the newest grandson, as well as mother, father, and the rest of the family are doing fine.

Had I been present for votes, I would have voted as follows:

On rollcall vote No. 523, H. Res. 1344, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 522, H. Res. 1344, On Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act (H.Res.1344) I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 521, H.R. 6535, Table Motion to Reconsider, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 520, H.R. 6535, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 519, H.R. 3221, Concur in Senate Amendment with House Amendment, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 518, H.R. 6532, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 517, H. Res. 1363, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 516, H. Res. 1363, On Ordering the Previous Question, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 515, On Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``nay;''

On rollcall vote No. 514, H. Res. 1202, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 513, H. Res. 1311, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 512, H.R. 6493, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1202) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise to join my colleagues in consideration of H. Res. 1202 which supports the goals and ideals of National Guard Youth Challenge Day.

H. Res. 1202 was introduced by our colleague and ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) on May 15, 2008. This resolution was considered by and reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 16, 2008, by voice vote and has the support and cosponsorship of 62 Members of Congress.

In America today, we are facing an epidemic of young men and women dropping out of high school. Even with programs like GEAR UP, each year we continue to see that nearly a million and a quarter students fail to graduate from high school, and that there are approximately 33 million Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 who have not earned their high school degree.

These facts help to highlight the importance of recognizing the efforts and achievements of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program strives to improve the education, life skills, and employment potential of America's high school dropouts through public awareness, scholarships, higher education assistance, mentoring, and job development programs. The program can be found in 28 States as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia and at each site you can find a difference being made in the lives of so many deserving young people.

Since it began in 1993, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program has assisted over 75,000 students. The success rate is astounding: 80 percent earn their high school diplomas or GED, 26 percent enter college, 18 percent enter the military, and 56 percent join the workforce in career jobs.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia for sponsoring the measure at hand and given the significant contribution that the National Guard Youth Challenge Program makes to our nation, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1202.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1202, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day.

This measure celebrates the success of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Implemented by the National Guard in participating states, the program aims to address the growing national epidemic of high school dropouts by improving the education, life skills, and employment potential for ``at risk'' youth through military-based training and supervised work experience. The program is fundamental in giving young people a second chance to obtain their high school diplomas and to become productive citizens within their communities.

The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is results-driven and cost-effective. Since its inception in 1993, nearly 80,000 students have graduated from the program, and more than 90 percent of its graduates earn their high school diploma or GED, go to college, enter the military, or join the workforce.

When I served as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, I met with program participants and staff on numerous occasions and was impressed by the achievements of its graduates. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program has made a lasting impact on young people

and communities not only in Hawaii but across the Nation.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably absent on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 22 and 23, 2008, on very urgent business. Had I been present for the twelve votes which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6493, Rollcall vote No. 512; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1311, Rollcall vote No. 513; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1202, Rollcall vote No. 514; I would have voted ``no'' on the Motion to Adjourn, Rollcall vote No. 515; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1363, Rollcall vote No. 516; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1363, Rollcall vote No. 517; I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6532, Rollcall vote No. 518; I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 3221, Rollcall vote No. 519; I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6545, Rollcall vote No. 520; I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6545, Rollcall vote No. 521; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1344, Rollcall vote No. 522; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1344, Rollcall vote No. 523.