<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>urging the United States Mission to the United Nations to create the position of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>youth delegate.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>WHEREAS, the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) serves as the United <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>States' delegation to the United Nations; and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>WHEREAS, created in 1947 by an act of Congress to assist the President and the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>Department of State in conducting United States policy at the United Nations, the USUN is <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>responsible for carrying out the nation's participation in the world body, and it has served a vital <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>role as the Department of State's UN branch; and<br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>WHEREAS, today, the USUN has approximately 150 people on staff who serve to <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>represent the United States' political, economic and social, legal, military, public diplomacy, and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>management interests at the United Nations; and<br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>WHEREAS, national youth delegates to the United Nations help to enhance awareness <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>of the global situation of youth and to increase recognition of their rights and aspirations, while <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>promoting national youth policies, programs, and coordinating mechanisms as integral parts of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>social and economic development, in cooperation with both governmental and nongovernmental <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>organizations; and<br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>WHEREAS, youth delegates also help to strengthen the participation of youth in <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their contribution to national <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>development and international cooperation; and<br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>WHEREAS, member states of the United Nations have long recognized that the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>imagination, energy, and ideals of young people are vital for the continuing development of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>the societies in which they live, and the inclusion of youth delegates leads to better policy and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>programmatic responses to the problems facing young people today; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>WHEREAS, the United States currently has no youth delegate to the United Nations; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>WHEREAS, while the costs of creating a youth delegate position from the United States <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>would be minimal, the potential benefits are enormous: giving young people a role and a voice in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>seeking to address today's challenges would enable them to become key agents for development, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>social change, economic growth, and technological innovation; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>WHEREAS, by enabling more effective participation of young people, the nation can <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>benefit from their energy, idealism, unique perspectives, innovation, and creativity; young people <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>are the experts on the issues that affect them and are integral to achieving effective and enduring <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>solutions; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>WHEREAS, when young people are empowered to participate more fully in society and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>decision-making processes, they become engaged as partners in shaping the world they will <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>inherit and pass on to future generations; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>WHEREAS, the creation of a youth delegate position would be a tangible demonstration by <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>the United States government of their commitment to young people, improving relations between <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>the government and United States youth; in addition, it would promote youth representation <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>and participation in an organization such as the United Nations General Assembly and inspire <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>young people to take a greater interest in citizenship and become more involved in international <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>issues; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>WHEREAS, a youth delegate position will provide an opportunity for the United States to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>comply with United Nations resolutions on youth representatives while maintaining autonomy <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>over the process, and will allow the United States to legitimately represent the views of United <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>States youth and promote their voices in global decision-making; NOW, THEREFORE,<br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the United <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>States Mission to the United Nations to create the position of youth delegate. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>the United States House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>the USUN, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.<br/>