Model Letter Encouraging
Co-Sponsorship of YAA

To send the letter to the district office, locate the address on www.house.gov or  www.senate.gov.  To send a letter to the Washington, DC office, use the address below:

  The Honorable (Name)                                           The Honorable (Name)
  U.S. House of Representatives                              U.S. Senate
  Washington, D.C. 20515                                         Washington, DC 20510

  Dear Senator or Representative (name): 

 I write to encourage you to co-sponsor S. 1005  (if you are writing to a Senator) or H.R.  17 (if you are writing to a member of the House of Representatives), the Younger Americans Act (YAA).  YAA is a bipartisan effort to create a national youth policy that ensures all youth in our nation access to opportunities that will prepare them to be effective citizens today and when they are adults.  It gives $5.75 billion dollars (95% of  which goes directly to the state and local level) over 5 years for youth development programs.  It also sets up community boards, on which youth will serve, to allocate the  funds.  The goal is to ensure that all children and young people have access to:

          •        Ongoing relationships with caring adults;

          •        Safe places with structured activities during the non-school hours;

          •        Physical well-being and mental health;

          •        Marketable skills; and

          •        Opportunities to give back through community service and civic participation.

Although there are several federal programs for youth, they are unable to  comprehensively meet the full needs of young people. Most of the federal programs for youth are problem-focused—they seek to treat or, in some cases, prevent problems among youth.  But this is not enough: problem-free is not fully-prepared.  YAA will help develop the capacity of youth to be actively engaged and invested in our communities.

 [Here, please describe how YAA would positively impact your community, your organization, and the youth you serve.  Make sure to explain a little about your organization to make it as relevant as possible.]

 Please join your Congressional colleagues in supporting this very important and timely legislation.  I look forward to receiving your reply.

Sincerely,

  Your Name

  Your Title

  Your Organization