III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 141 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 12, 2011 Mr. Conrad (for himself and Mr. Hoeven) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary June 20 (legislative day, June 16), 2011 Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble RESOLUTION Recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the GOD'S CHILD Project and congratulating the GOD'S CHILD Project on its 20th anniversary.

Whereas international educator, human rights leader, and native of the State of North Dakota Patrick Atkinson, deeply concerned about the plight of poor and exploited children around the globe, established the nonprofit GOD’S CHILD Project in 1991 with the mission of breaking the bitter chains of poverty through education and information; Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project has a global presence, serving the most vulnerable women and children on 3 continents, with operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Malawi, and the United States; Whereas the international GOD’S CHILD Project, true to its roots, maintains its global headquarters in Bismarck, North Dakota; Whereas more than 5,000 orphaned, abandoned, and impoverished children and nearly 8,700 widowed, abandoned, and single mothers and their dependents receive care from, and are educated by, the GOD’S CHILD Project; Whereas since the GOD'S CHILD Project was founded, more than 18,000 parentless children and thousands more women have been given hope by the GOD'S CHILD Project; Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project, taking a comprehensive view of helping the destitute and exploited break free from poverty and oppression, operates schools, a family clinic, social work department, psychology clinic, domestic violence program, legal aid department, and a center for malnourished children; Whereas in response to the transnational problem of human trafficking, the GOD’S CHILD Project established the Institute for Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing Persons in 2001 to address the issues of human trafficking and exploitation, which are particularly severe in Central America; Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project is often 1 of the first organizations to respond to devastating natural disasters, including Tropical Storm Agatha, which ravaged Central America in 2010, taking nearly 180 lives and destroying the homes of thousands; Whereas each year, approximately 2,500 volunteers and 45 homebuilding groups from around the world join with the GOD'S CHILD Project staff to compassionately serve their brothers and sisters in need; and Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project has received numerous accolades recognizing its service to the poor from United States and foreign organizations, including the Guatemalan Congressional Medal of Honor, Guatemala's Goodwill Ambassador For Peace, and the 2010 Humanitarian Award from the Bismarck City Human Rights Commission: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)congratulates the GOD'S CHILD Project on its 20th anniversary; (2)commends the GOD'S CHILD Project for its charitable service to the poor and its efforts to help thousands break the bonds of poverty and exploitation; and (3)recognizes those individuals who have served impoverished children and women throughout the world under the auspices of the GOD'S CHILD Project, including the volunteers and staff of the GOD'S CHILD Project.