During my 12 years in Congress, I have seen a lot of government-supported programs in action. The National Youth Sports Program is one public/private program that works as efficiently as any program I have seen on university campuses.

I first became involved with the NYSP in 1993 at the suggestion of my father, Jim Roemer, who administered the program at the University of Notre Dame for nine years until his retirement this fall. I had agreed to stop by the campus to talk to the NYSP participants and shoot a few baskets with them, fully expecting to be on my way in an hour or so.

As it turned out, I spent several hours at the program, and I have been back every year since. I have learned that the NYSP is a life-changing experience for many of these children, and that the time they spend in this program is crucial to their growth and development.

One young man who lived in a public housing project in South Bend told me he had never even visited the Notre Dame campus before he enrolled in the NYSP. At first, he was intimidated by the surroundings, but as he watched the students and became more acclimated to the classroom environment, his confidence and self-esteem grew. For him, the NYSP turned out to be more than just an opportunity to play sports; it was the inspiration to buckle down as a student, earn higher grades in school, become a responsible citizen and pursue goals that he had never even considered before.

And it is not just the participants who benefit from the NYSP experience. Notre Dame hires a cadre of college students to serve as youth coordinators throughout the summer. Many of those students have told me that their time in the NYSP was so enriching that it encouraged them to pursue careers as teachers, student counselors and in public service.

Every year when I visit the NYSP program, I leave wondering just who benefits the most from it: the poor, inner-city kids who desperately need the meals, the computer and classroom training, and the attention and support of caring adults; or the college student counselors, many of whom come from comfortable backgrounds but often find a calling after spending so much time with these less-privileged children.

In Congress, I have served as one of the chief sponsors of legislation to fund the NYSP program for many years. I have watched with great pride as support for the NYSP has grown year after year. Last year, Congress appropriated $17 million for the NYSP -- funding that triples when matched by participating colleges and universities, the NCAA, and many other businesses, amateur-sports and nonprofit organizations. This year, we hope to increase the federal funding level to $20 million. That is not much compared to most federal programs, but it is money that is well-spent.

Much of the credit for this growing support goes to the NYSP, the NCAA and the participating educational institutions. They have done a great job of administering the program, and expanding it to nearly 200 colleges and more than 73,000 participants nationwide. They have a compelling story to tell, and the more people learn about the NYSP, the more they agree that this is a program that deserves our full support.

Although I will be retiring from Congress at the end of this year, I intend to remain actively involved with the NYSP in the years ahead. It is such a rewarding experience to spend time with these children, talk to them and give them needed encouragement and guidance. My involvement with the NYSP and the many people involved with this program will always be one of the highlights of my congressional career.

Rep. Tim Roemer represents the 3rd district of Indiana in the United States House of Representatives.