III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 556 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2010 Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Bond, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children and families and designating 2010 as The Year of the Father.

Whereas Father’s Day was founded in 1910 by Mrs. John B. Dodd, Sonora Smart Dodd, after attending a Mother’s Day celebration in 1909 and believing that fathers should receive the same recognition; Whereas Mrs. Dodd founded the day in celebration of her father, William Smart; Whereas William Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised 6 children on his own after the death of his wife; Whereas Spokane, Washington, recognized and hosted the first celebration of Father’s Day on June 19, 1910; Whereas in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized Father’s Day and urged States to follow suit; Whereas in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be recognized as Father’s Day and requested that flags be flown that day on all Government buildings; Whereas President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972 permanently observing Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June; Whereas Father’s Day is celebrated in over 50 countries around the world; Whereas there are an estimated 64,000,000 fathers in the United States; Whereas it is well documented that children involved with loving fathers are significantly more likely to have healthy self-esteems, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, avoid high risk behaviors, reduce anti-social behavior and delinquency in boys, have better peer relationships, and have higher occupational mobility relative to parents; Whereas fathers who live with their children are likely to have a close, enduring relationship with their children than those who do not; and Whereas the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day will be celebrated in Spokane, Washington, on June 20, 2010: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children and families; and (2)designates 2010 as The Year of the Father.