Political Quotes

“today I rise to introduce the Mentoring America's Children Act of 2010, which will help promote positive youth development for children. Approximately 17.6 million young people, which is nearly half the population between ages 10 and 18, live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential. Without intervention by caring adults, these young people could make choices that undermine their future as well as the economic and social well-being of our Nation. Mentoring programs that provide youth with support, advice, friendship, positive reinforcement, and constructive examples have proved to be a powerful tool for enhancing positive development among youth. I, myself, was a mentor in the Big Brother Program in Connecticut, and I saw first-hand the impact these programs have on the children involved. Research has found that mentored youth have fewer school absences, better attitudes towards school, less drug and alcohol abuse, fewer incidents of hitting, better relationships with their parents, and more positive attitudes towards helping others. Mentored youth are also more likely to graduate from high school and go on to higher education. Thus, mentoring invests not only in the individual child, but our Nation's future success.”