[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 139 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 139

 Designating September 24, 2001, as ``Family Day--A Day To Eat Dinner 
                         With Your Children''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 26, 2001

   Mr. Biden (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating September 24, 2001, as ``Family Day--A Day To Eat Dinner 
                         With Your Children''.

Whereas the use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol and nicotine 
        constitute the greatest threats to the well-being of the Nation's 
        children;
Whereas surveys conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance 
        Abuse at Columbia University have consistently found that children and 
        teenagers who routinely eat dinner with their families are far less 
        likely to use illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol;
Whereas teenagers who virtually never eat dinner with their families are 72 
        percent more likely than the average teenager to use illegal drugs, 
        alcohol, and cigarettes;
Whereas teenagers who almost always eat dinner with their families are 31 
        percent less likely than the average teenager to use illegal drugs, 
        alcohol, and cigarettes;
Whereas the correlation between family dinners and reduced risk for teenage 
        substance abuse are well-documented;
Whereas parental influence is known to be one of the most crucial factors in 
        determining the likelihood of substance abuse by teenagers; and
Whereas family dinners have long constituted a pillar of family life in America: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 24, 2001, as ``Family Day--A Day 
        To Eat Dinner With Your Children'';
            (2) recognizes that eating dinner as a family is an 
        important step toward raising drug-free children; and
            (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling upon--
                    (A) the parents of the children of the United 
                States to observe the day by eating dinner with their 
                children; and
                    (B) the people of the United States to observe the 
                day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>