III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 587 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 22 (legislative day, September 21), 2012 Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs.

Whereas high-quality afterschool programs provide safe, challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences that help children and youth develop social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills; Whereas high-quality afterschool programs support working families by ensuring that the children in those families are safe and productive after the regular school day ends; Whereas high-quality afterschool programs build stronger communities by involving students, parents, business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of children in the United States, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families, and adults; Whereas high-quality afterschool programs engage families, schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the well-being of children in the United States; Whereas Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 18, 2012, highlights the critical importance of high-quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities; Whereas more than 28,000,000 children in the United States have parents who work outside the home and approximately 15,100,000 children in the United States have no place to go after school; and Whereas nearly 2 in 5 afterschool programs report that their budgets are in worse condition today than at the height of the recession in 2008, and more than 3 in 5 afterschool programs report that their level of funding is lower than it was 3 years ago, making it difficult for afterschool programs across the United States to keep their doors open and their lights on: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate supports Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 18, 2012.