[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 47 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 47


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 14, 2005

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the establishment in College Point, New York, of the first 
            free, public kindergarten in the United States.

Whereas in 1854, Conrad Poppenhusen, a successful businessman from Germany, 
        built a factory in College Point, Queens, New York, and, breaking with 
        many entrepreneurs of his time, worked to create an environment 
        beneficial to the immigrant community, which included schools;
Whereas the Poppenhusen Institute was established in 1868 with a $100,000 
        donation;
Whereas the Poppenhusen Institute was to serve the fundamental educational needs 
        of the community and began as a free adult evening school for the 
        residents of Flushing Town;
Whereas in 1870, the Poppenhusen Institute's services expanded to serve as the 
        first free, public kindergarten in the United States for the children of 
        Mr. Poppenhusen's factory and the community;
Whereas children who attend a high-quality kindergarten demonstrate higher 
        levels of reading and mathematics knowledge and skills than those who do 
        not attend kindergarten;
Whereas a number of studies, including studies commissioned by the Department of 
        Education, demonstrate that children enrolled in kindergarten more 
        rapidly acquire the knowledge and skills integral to succeed in school 
        and life;
Whereas the United States is a stronger, better place because of the children 
        who are able to enrich their academic and social development through 
        free kindergartens across the country;
Whereas for some children, kindergarten is the first common ground where they 
        interact with students from a myriad of cultural, economic, racial, and 
        religious backgrounds to learn about their world, each other, and 
        themselves; and
Whereas universal, free, high-quality kindergarten for the Nation's children 
        provides benefits both to these children and to society at large: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress commends the Poppenhusen Institute and the 
        College Point community for establishing the first free, public 
        kindergarten in the United States; and
            (2) the Congress supports the strong beginnings 
        kindergartens across the United States provide for the Nation's 
        children.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.