Political Quotes

“on behalf of myself and my colleagues Senator Lincoln, Senator Chambliss, Senator Shaheen, Senator Murkowski, Senator Barrasso and Senator Byrd, I rise today to submit a resolution in support of the goals and ideals of National Guard Youth Challenge Day and in support of the Youth ChalleNGe program. Few programs have been as effective in combating the high rate of high school dropouts as the Youth ChalleNGe program. Established by the National Guard in 1993 to help at-risk youth aged 16-18 who have dropped out or been expelled from school, the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program includes a 5-month residential program and 12-month mentoring program where participants learn life-skills, gain real-life work experience, receive on-the-job training, participate in community service and have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED. Everyone knows that high school dropouts face much greater challenges than their peers who finish school. Dropouts have an unemployment rate of 40 percent, as compared to the national average of 10 percent. Fifty-four percent of high school dropouts were jobless in an average month during 2008 alone. One in every three teen mothers is a dropout and one in four babies is born to a high school dropout. Dropouts have a life expectancy that is nine years less than a high school graduate.”