| Sponsor | Rep. Davis, Susan A. |
| Committee | Education and Labor |
| Date | January 13, 2009 (111th Congress, 1st Session) |
| Staff Contact | Adam Hepburn |
H.Res. 41 is being considered on the floor under a motion to suspend the rules, and requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This resolution was introduced by Representative Susan Davis (D-CA) on January 9, 2009, and was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, but was never considered.
H.Res. 41 resolves that the House of Representatives:
- Supports the goals and ideals of a National Mentoring Month.
- Recognizes the contributions of adults and students who volunteer as mentors and encourages other to mentor.
- Encourages Americans to promote the awareness of youth mentoring.
Mentoring is an activity in which a dependable adult provides guidance, support, and advice to a young person in order to foster academic and social development. Approximately three million American youth are involved in mentoring relationships. About 4,200 mentoring programs currently operate in communities in the United States.
According to Department of Education research, high quality mentoring improves academic achievement, social skills, and career development. Mentoring can also lead to a reduction of youth substance abuse, academic failure, and delinquency.
On December 30, 2008, President Bush issued a proclamation declaring this month as National Mentoring Month. In his proclamation, the President stated, "Every day across our great Nation, men and women of many different backgrounds work to inspire our next generation of leaders... Mentors demonstrate that the strength of our Nation lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens and that a positive influence in someone's life helps them secure a more hopeful future." The designation of January 2009 as National Mentoring Month is an effort to publicize and celebrate the role of mentors in the lives of young people.