[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 381 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 381

     Designating March 1, 2006, as National Sibling Connection Day.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 16, 2006

  Mr. Salazar (for himself, Mr. Ensign, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
     Johnson, Mr. Kerry, and Mrs. Clinton) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                           February 28, 2006

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating March 1, 2006, as National Sibling Connection Day.

Whereas sibling relationships are among the longest lasting and most significant 
        relationships in life;
Whereas brothers and sisters share history, memories, and traditions that bind 
        them together as family;
Whereas it is estimated that over 65 percent of children in foster care have 
        siblings, and are often separated when they are placed in the foster 
        care system, adopted, or confronted with different kinship placements;
Whereas children in foster care have a greater risk of emotional disturbance, 
        difficulties in school, and problems with relationships than their 
        peers;
Whereas the separation of siblings as children causes additional grief and loss;
Whereas organizations and private volunteers advocate for the preservation of 
        sibling relationships in foster care settings and provide siblings in 
        foster care with the opportunity to reunite;
Whereas Camp to Belong, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by Lynn Price, 
        heightens public awareness of the need to preserve sibling relationships 
        in foster care settings and gives siblings in foster care the 
        opportunity to reunite; and
Whereas Camp to Belong has reunited over 2,000 separated siblings across the 
        United States, the United States Virgin Islands, and Canada: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 1, 2006, as ``Siblings Connection 
        Day'';
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to celebrate 
        sibling relationships on this day; and
            (3) supports efforts to respect and preserve those sibling 
        relationships that are at risk of being disrupted due to the 
        placement of children into the foster care system.
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