[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12518-S12519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     NATIONAL CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 150, Senate 
Resolution 103.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 103) to proclaim the week of October 
     15 through October 21, 1995, 

[[Page S 12519]]
     as National Character Counts Week, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; that the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to 
the resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the resolution (S. Res. 103) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:
                              S. Res. 103

       Whereas young people will be the stewards of our 
     communities, the nation, and world in critical times, and the 
     present and future well-being of society requires an 
     involved, caring citizenry with good character;
       Whereas concerns about the character training of children 
     have taken on a new sense of urgency as violence by and 
     against youth threatens the physical and psychological well-
     being of the United States;
       Whereas, more than ever, children need strong and 
     constructive guidance from their families, their communities, 
     and institutions such as schools, youth organizations, 
     religious institutions, and civic groups;
       Whereas the character of a nation is only as strong as the 
     character of the individual citizens comprising the nation;
       Whereas the public good is advanced when young people are 
     taught the importance of good character, and that character 
     counts in personal relationships, in school, and in the 
     workplace;
       Whereas scholars and educators agree that people do not 
     automatically develop good character and, therefore, 
     conscientious efforts must be made by youth-influencing 
     institutions and individuals to help young people develop the 
     essential traits and characteristics that comprise good 
     character;
       Whereas character development is, first and foremost, an 
     obligation of families, efforts by religious institutions, 
     schools, and youth, civic, and human service organizations 
     also play a very important role in supporting family efforts 
     by fostering and promoting good character;
       Whereas the Senate encourages students, teachers, parents, 
     youth, and community leaders to recognize the valuable role 
     youth in the United States play in the present and future of 
     the United States, and to recognize that character plays an 
     important role in the future of the United States;
       Whereas, in July 1992, the Aspen Declaration was written by 
     an eminent group of educators, youth leaders, and ethics 
     scholars for the purpose of articulating a coherent framework 
     for character education appropriate to a diverse and 
     pluralistic society;
       Whereas the Aspen Declaration states that ``Effective 
     character education is based on core ethical values which 
     form the foundation of democratic society'';
       Whereas the core ethical values identified by the Aspen 
     Declaration constitute the 6 core elements of character;
       Whereas the 6 core elements of character are 
     trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, justice and 
     fairness, caring, and civic virtue and citizenship;
       Whereas the 6 core elements of character transcend 
     cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences;
       Whereas the Aspen Declaration states that ``The character 
     and conduct of our youth reflect the character and conduct of 
     society; therefore, every adult has the responsibility to 
     teach and model the core ethical values and every social 
     institution has the responsibility to promote the development 
     of good character.'';
       Whereas the Senate encourages individuals and 
     organizations, especially the individuals and organizations 
     that have an interest in the education and training of our 
     youth, to adopt the 6 core elements of character as intrinsic 
     to the well-being of individuals, communities, and society as 
     a whole; and
       Whereas the Senate encourages communities, especially 
     schools and youth organizations, to integrate the 6 core 
     elements of character into programs serving students and 
     children: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate proclaims the week of October 15 
     through October 21, 1995, as National Character Counts Week, 
     and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States and interested groups to 
     embrace the 6 core elements of character and to observe the 
     week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
     

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