[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 278 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 278

   Designating the 30th day of April of 1999, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
         Celebrating Young Americans'', and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 16, 1998

Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
 McCain, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Harkin, 
   Mr. Bond, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Chafee, Mr. 
 Lautenberg, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Moseley-Braun, and Mr. Reid) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the 30th day of April of 1999, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
         Celebrating Young Americans'', and for other purposes.

Whereas many of the nations throughout the world, and especially within the 
        Western hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los Ninos'' on the 30th of April, 
        in recognition and celebration of their country's future--their 
        children;
Whereas children represent the hopes and dreams of the citizens of the United 
        States;
Whereas children are the center of American families;
Whereas children should be nurtured and invested in to preserve and enhance 
        economic prosperity, democracy, and the American spirit;
Whereas Latinos in the United States, the youngest and fastest growing ethnic 
        community in the nation, continue the tradition of honoring their 
        children on this day, and wish to share this custom with the rest of the 
        Nation;
Whereas one in four Americans is projected to be of Hispanic descent by the year 
        2050, and there are now 10.5 million Latino children;
Whereas traditional Latino family life centers largely on its children;
Whereas the primary teachers of family values, morality, and culture are parents 
        and family members, and we rely on children to pass on these family 
        values, morals, and culture to future generations;
Whereas more than 500,000 children drop out of school each year and Hispanic 
        dropout rates are unacceptably high;
Whereas the importance of literacy and education are most often communicated to 
        children through family members;
Whereas families should be encouraged to engage in family and community 
        activities that include extended and elderly family members and 
        encourage children to explore, develop confidence, and pursue their 
        dreams;
Whereas the designation of a day to honor the children of the Nation will help 
        affirm for the people of the United States the significance of family, 
        education, and community;
Whereas the designation of a day of special recognition of children of the 
        United States will provide an opportunity to children to reflect on 
        their future, to articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find 
        comfort and security in the support of their family members and 
        communities;
Whereas the National Latino Children's Institute, serving as a voice for 
        children, has worked with cities throughout the country to declare April 
        30 as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans''--a day to bring 
        together Latinos and other communities nationwide to celebrate and 
        uplift children; and
Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of all its citizens, and 
        citizens should be encouraged to celebrate the gifts of children to 
        society--their curiosity, laughter, faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and 
        dreams: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate designates the 30th of April of 1999, as 
``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans'' and requests that the 
President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United 
States to join with all children, families, organizations, communities, 
churches, cities, and States across the Nation to observe the day with 
appropriate ceremonies, beginning April 30, 1999, that include--
            (1) activities that center around children, and are free or 
        minimal in cost so as to encourage and facilitate the 
        participation of all our citizens;
            (2) activities that are positive, uplifting, and that help 
        children express their hopes and dreams;
            (3) activities that provide opportunities for children of 
        all backgrounds to learn about one another's cultures and share 
        ideas;
            (4) activities that include all members of the family, and 
        especially extended and elderly family members, so as to 
        promote greater communication among the generations within a 
        family, enabling children to appreciate and benefit from the 
        experiences and wisdom of their elderly family members;
            (5) activities that provide opportunities for families 
        within a community to get acquainted; and
            (6) activities that provide children with the support they 
        need to develop skills and confidence, and find the inner 
        strength--the will and fire of the human spirit--to make their 
        dreams come true.
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