[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 235 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 235

  Recognizing April 23 as National Sovereignty and Children's Day in 
                                Turkey.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2011

Mr. Towns submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing April 23 as National Sovereignty and Children's Day in 
                                Turkey.

Whereas, on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence that the Grand 
        National Assembly met in Ankara to lay down the foundations of a new, 
        independent, secular, and modern Republic of Turkey;
Whereas following the signing of the Lausanne Treaty on July 24, 1923, Mustafa 
        Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, began the task of 
        establishing the institutions of the new state of Turkey;
Whereas Ataturk declared that April 23 would not only be National Sovereignty 
        Day, but would also be designated Children's Day;
Whereas Ataturk made such a designation as an acknowledgment that he was 
        entrusting ``in the hands of the youth the protection of [Turkey's] 
        sovereignty and independence'';
Whereas this was believed to be the first time that any government dedicated a 
        day to children;
Whereas every year since April 23, 1924, this day has been celebrated as a 
        national holiday in Turkey;
Whereas on Children's Day, children stand in for high ranking government 
        officials and replace parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly to 
        conduct the nation's business and undertake debates on matters of 
        concern to children;
Whereas over the last 20 years, Turkish officials have sought to 
        internationalize children's day by extending invitations to children 
        globally to participate in the nation's festivities on that day; and
Whereas the importance of Children's Day has been recognized by the 
        international community with UNICEF designating this day as 
        International Children's Day and with more than 60 nations participating 
        in the celebration of International Children's Day every year: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the importance of honoring our children 
        and welcomes United States participation in International 
        Children's Day;
            (2) thanks the Government and citizens of Turkey for being 
        the first to recognize the importance of children to the nation 
        and the world; and
            (3) congratulates the people of Turkey for the vibrancy of 
        their parliamentary democracy.
                                 <all>