,,iv #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #gj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aj1 #bjac,mr4 ,nolan 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,farr1 ,ms4 ,slaughter1 ,mr4 ,conyers1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,walz1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 and ,mr4 ,loebsack7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,recognizing the critical contributions international volunteers provide to the ,united ,states4 ,whereas ,december #e marks ,international ,volunteer ,day1 a day to increase awareness of the important contributions of volunteer service2 ,whereas international volunteering provides meaningful opportunities to build cross-cultural understanding while addressing vital human development needs2 ,whereas a #bjjf ,terror ,free ,tomorrow poll of the world's three largest ,muslim countries 7,indonesia1 ,bangladesh1 and ,pakistan7 indicates that development assistance results in substantial favorable change in opinion toward the ,united ,states2 ,whereas for more than #ej years1 the ,united ,states ,peace ,corps has sent more than #bjj1jjj ,united ,states citizens abroad on #bg-month volunteer assignments to advance development and build understanding2 ,whereas ,kosovo recently announced it will become the #adjth country since #aifa to receive ,peace ,corps volunteers2 ,whereas in the past #aj years1 nearly #abj1jjj ,united ,states professionals have served the ,nation internationally through ,volunteers for ,prosperity1 sharing their skills to support programs of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development to advance agriculture1 economic development1 environment1 health1 democracy1 governance1 and more2 ,whereas more than #cjj member organizations of the ,building ,bridges ,coalition are actively involved in organizing and documenting effective practices1 increasing public awareness1 and energizing campus and corporate engagement in support of ,united ,states international service opportunities2 ,whereas ,duke ,university has sent over #a1fjj students to volunteer overseas in more than #ej countries1 just one example of the increasing number of institutions of higher education committed to international service2 ,whereas ,global ,volunteers1 the pioneer nonprofit international short-term volunteer service organization1 has engaged #cj1jjj volunteers since #aihd1 providing #b1djj1jjj hours of volunteer service and now provides comprehensive services by helping deliver the ,united ,nations ,the ,essential ,package for the benefit of developing communities2 ,whereas over #bjj volunteers have served abroad as ,harris ,wofford ,global ,service ,fellows in #bjab and #bjac through full and partial scholarships from the private and nonprofit sectors2 ,whereas since #aihf1 more than #g1jjj individuals in #cj countries in #aa1gjj1jjj hours have served as educators through year-long opportunities provided through ,world ,teach1 including its newest program in #bjac in ,vietnam2 ,whereas #bjad will mark the #ejth anniversary of ,partners of the ,americas1 a people-to-people organization that evolved from the ,alliance for ,progress1 which connects more than #aj1jjj volunteers in the ,western ,hemisphere to serve and to change lives through lasting partnerships2 ,whereas #bjad will also mark the #bjth anniversary of ,cross ,cultural ,solutions1 which has sent more than #cj1jjj volunteers on short-term service projects across ,africa1 ,asia1 and ,latin ,america2 ,whereas ,habitat for ,humanity since #aigf has served more than #gej1jjj families around the world in providing adequate and stable housing with the help of #a1jjj1jjj volunteers each year2 ,whereas this is one example of the increasing number of faith-based institutions committed to international service2 ,whereas ,atlas ,corps1 an organization that promotes multi-lateral1 long-term professional exchange1 has supported the reverse flow of volunteers through the engagement of more than #bjj professionals from #ed countries in #djj1jjj hours of service in the ,united ,states and ,latin ,america2 ,whereas the ,on ,demand ,community reflects #ad1jjj1jjj hours of ,,ibm's employees and retirees volunteer efforts in over #abj countries1 an example of the increasing number of corporations committed to international service2 ,whereas the programs and organizations listed above are representative of dozens of similar other international volunteer initiatives that1 taken together1 provide ,united ,states citizens with a flexibility of offerings to serve fellow citizens across the globe and engage volunteers at home2 ,whereas in a ,july #ae1 #bjac1 memorandum1 ,president ,barack ,obama said ,national service and volunteering can be effective solutions to national challenges and can have positive and lasting impacts that reach beyond the immediate service experience42 ,whereas in a ,march #bi1 #bjac1 opinion piece in the ,wall ,street ,journal1 ,general ,stanley ,mc,chrystal called for a cultural shift that makes service an expected rite of citizenship2 and ,whereas the ,franklin ,project is proposing a #bast century ,national ,service ,system to offer at least #a1jjj1jjj full-time civilian national service opportunities each year for young adults3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that ,congress-- 7#a7 recognizes ,international ,service ,day as a day to appreciate citizens around the world who volunteer in other nations in service to others2 7#b7 honors and congratulates the tens of thousands of ,united ,states citizens who selflessly take part in international volunteer service activities each year2 7#c7 expresses its hope that tens of thousands of ,united ,states citizens will continue to engage in international service1 bringing the spirit and values of the ,nation's people to all corners of the globe2 and 7#d7 calls on the ,administration to further develop the strong spirit of partnership and global service connecting the ,united ,states ,peace ,corps with its nonprofit1 faith-based1 and corporate actors in service for enhanced impacts in cross-cultural understanding and development outcomes4