Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - July 17, 2007)

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By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. KERRY, Mr. AKAKA, and Mr. BAYH):

S. 1812. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen mentoring programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, research indicates a caring adult can make a difference in a child's future. Today, I am pleased to introduce legislation that will expand the mentoring programs found in the No Child Left Behind Act. If adopted, the Mentoring America's Children Act of 2007 would help close America's ``mentoring gap'' and match more at-risk students with high-quality mentors. I thank my colleagues, Senators KERRY, AKAKA, and BAYH, for joining me on this important legislation.

Mentoring programs are a cost-effective way to expand a young person's ability for success. Studies have shown young people with mentors perform better in school and are more likely to graduate and go on to higher education. Mentors also play a role in improving the social and emotional well-being and reducing the negative behaviors of the children they mentor.

Despite the positive effects of having a mentor, nearly 15 million young adults are still in need of mentoring. These young people encompass America's ``mentoring gap.'' That is why I have joined with my colleagues to introduce the Mentoring America's Children Act of 2007.

This legislation broadens the reach of mentoring to include specific populations of young people who could particularly benefit from a mentor's involvement, including children in foster care and kids in communities with a high rate of youth suicides. It also provides much needed training and technical assistance to grantees, tracks youth outcomes, strengthens research on the effects of mentoring, and improves the sustainability of grant recipients. Finally, this bill allows students to gain professional skills while working with mentors by establishing internship programs during the school year.

Mentoring plays a key role in improving the learning environment for a young person, as mentored youth have better attendance and are more connected to their school, schoolwork, and teachers. Mentors serve as role models, advisors, and advocates for the children they mentor. We must work together to match even more high-quality mentors with our neediest children.

This legislation is supported by MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the National Collaboration for Youth. I ask my colleagues to join me in approving this legislation.

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