[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 343 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 343


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 26, 2000

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of 
                       families eating together.

Whereas the use and abuse of illegal drugs, nicotine, and alcohol are the 
        greatest threat to the health and well-being of American children;
Whereas parental influence is one of the most crucial factors in determining the 
        likelihood of teenage substance abuse;
Whereas family dinners have long been a pillar of American family life;
Whereas the correlation between the frequency of family dinners and the risk of 
        substance abuse is well documented;
Whereas surveys conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance 
        Abuse at Columbia University have found, for each of the past 4 years, 
        that children and teenagers who routinely eat dinner with their families 
        are far less likely to use illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol;
Whereas, according to these surveys, teenagers from families that seldom eat 
        dinner together are 72 percent more likely than the average teenager to 
        use illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, and teenagers from families 
        that eat dinner together are 31 percent less likely than the average 
        teenager to use illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol;
Whereas one method for families to eat dinner together more often would be for 
        them to select a recurring occasion for doing so, such as the third 
        Monday of each month; and
Whereas a National Eat-Dinner-With-Your-Children Day on Monday, June 19, 2000, 
        would encourage families to eat together: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) eating dinner together is a critical step for a family 
        in raising healthy, drug-free children; and
            (2) a National Eat-Dinner-With-Your-Children Day should be 
        established in order to encourage families to eat together as 
        often as possible.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 25, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.