[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 123 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 123

 Designating April 30, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young 
                  Americans'', and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 26, 2005

 Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
Martinez, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating April 30, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young 
                  Americans'', and for other purposes.

Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially within the Western 
        hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los Ninos'', or ``Day of the Children'' 
        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 people 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 Hispanics 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 1 in 4 Americans is projected to be of Hispanic descent by the year 
        2050, and as of 2003, approximately 12,300,000 Hispanic children live in 
        the United States;
Whereas traditional Hispanic family life centers largely on 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 United States 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 for the children of the 
        United States will provide an opportunity for children to reflect on 
        their future, to articulate their dreams and aspirations, and to 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 Hispanics and other communities nationwide to celebrate and 
        uplift children; and
Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of all its people, and 
        people 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--
            (1) designates April 30, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
        Celebrating Young Americans''; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States to join with 
        all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, 
        cities, and States across the United States to observe the day 
        with appropriate ceremonies, including activities that--
                    (A) center around children, and are free or minimal 
                in cost so as to encourage and facilitate the 
                participation of all our people;
                    (B) are positive and uplifting and that help 
                children express their hopes and dreams;
                    (C) provide opportunities for children of all 
                backgrounds to learn about one another's cultures and 
                to share ideas;
                    (D) 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;
                    (E) provide opportunities for families within a 
                community to get acquainted; and
                    (F) provide children with the support they need to 
                develop skills and confidence, and to find the inner 
                strength--the will and fire of the human spirit--to 
                make their dreams come true.
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