[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 126 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10556-S10557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 292--DESIGNATING ``NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY''
Mr. PRESSLER (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 292
Whereas the people of the United States should celebrate
children as the most valuable asset of the Nation;
Whereas the children represent the future, hope, and
inspiration of the United States;
Whereas the children of the United States should be allowed
to feel that their ideas and dreams will be respected because
adults in the United States take time to listen;
Whereas many children of the United States face crisis of
grave proportions, especially as they enter adolescent years;
Whereas it is important for parents to spend time listening
to their children on a daily basis;
Whereas modern societal and economic demands often pull the
family apart;
Whereas encouragement should be given to families to set a
special time for all family members to engage together in
family activities;
Whereas adults in the United States should have an
opportunity to reminisce on their youth to recapture some of
the fresh insight, innocence, and dreams that they may have
lost through the years;
Whereas the designation of a day to commemorate the
children of the United States will provide an opportunity to
emphasize to children the importance of developing an ability
to make the choices necessary to distance themselves from
impropriety and to contribute to their communities;
Whereas the designation of a day to commemorate the
children of the Nation will emphasize to the people of the
United States the importance of the role of the child within
the family and society;
Whereas the people of the United States should emphasize to
children the importance of family life, education, and
spiritual qualities; and
Whereas children are the responsibility of all Americans,
thus everyone should celebrate the children of the United
States, whose questions, laughter, and tears are important to
the existence of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate designates the second Sunday in
October of 1996 as ``National Children's Day'' and requests
that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people
of the United States to observe the day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, as a parent myself, I understand the
pride and joy we all have in our children. Along with many of my
colleagues, I am submitting a resolution today declaring the second
Sunday in October,
[[Page S10557]]
``National Children's Day.'' I am proud to be a cosponsor of this
resolution for the seventh consecutive year. As it has been for the
past 6 years, National Children's Day is about hope--the hopes we have
for children and the hope they must have for themselves. The
significant contributions children make to our lives should not go
unnoticed.
National Children's Day gives Americans the opportunity to reflect on
what we as parents, community leaders, and policymakers can do for the
children of today and tomorrow. The future of today's children looks
bright for a number of reasons. Republicans in Congress are serious
about balancing the budget. We would like to give America's children a
unique gift of freedom--freedom from national debt. By balancing the
budget and reducing the debt, children will have a chance to experience
as adults a far better quality of life than we enjoy today. A balanced
budget means lower interest rates, which would make a college education
and a first home more affordable. Positive welfare reform, improved
access to health care, and some of the toughest-ever child protection
laws have helped to make the United States an even better environment
for our children.
Technology, too, has opened up an exciting new world of possibilities
for young people. Computers are becoming commonplace in classrooms. By
utilizing advanced telecommunications, we can expand distance learning
opportunities, especially for children in small cities and towns. When
I was a kid growing up in Humboldt, SD, library books were my windows
to the world. Today's children can sit at their computers, access the
internet, and literally see, learn about, and talk to the world. These
opportunities are truly remarkable.
While the outlook for our children is very positive, we must not lose
sight of the challenges that lie ahead. National Children's Day also is
about protecting our children from all evil forces, internal or
external. Children were the tragic victims in Oklahoma City and, of
course, on TWA Flight 800. These and other acts of terror cannot be
tolerated. Our children deserve the continued assurance of a childhood
full of hope and free from fear.
Each day, children from across South Dakota write letters to me
asking for my help. Recently, I received a letter from Brandon Rausch,
a young boy in South Dakota working toward a Boy Scout award. He wrote
urging me to do something about gangs and school violence. South Dakota
recently has experienced an increase in juvenile violence, drug and
alcohol abuse, and other destructive behavior. Although South Dakota
still has one of the lowest crime rates in our Nation, we no longer are
immune from the social problems that used to impact only our Nation's
largest cities. I would tell Brandon, his friends, his parents, and his
teachers that I will do my best to help his community keep the streets
safe. Ultimately, we all must work together to defeat crime. Parents,
teachers, law enforcement officers, religious and community leaders,
and yes, even our kids, must work together. Teamwork is the best work.
That is more true today than ever because we live in a world where
children are asked to grow up faster than ever.
Mr. President, children from across the Nation visit our Senate
offices every day. Among those children from South Dakota who have
visited my office recently are Karna Lillebo; Jennifer, Kayla, and
Jeremy Nebelsick; Travis and Ryan Oorlog; Matt, Nick, and Katie Padron;
Robb, TJ, and Tiffany Rolfing; and Michael and Timothy Wrenn. I am
pleased they had the great opportunity to visit Washington to
experience the splendor and beauty of our Nation's capital. These
children and all others deserve the very best we can offer them.
My colleagues may be interested to learn that Father Robert Fox from
my home State of South Dakota serves as the national chairman of
National Children's Day. He has been the chair for some time now. He
still keeps in contact with Mary McCusker, who, along with her husband,
Dr. Patrick McCusker, began celebrating National Children's Day on the
second Sunday in October 47 years ago. Father Fox has been instrumental
in gaining worldwide recognition for National Children's Day. In fact,
Immaculate Heart Messenger, a publication that Father Fox edits,
recently promoted the celebration of children across our Nation and in
countries around the globe.
Over the past 47 years, the meaning of National Children's Day has
remained the same. National Children's Day promises children, as a
Nation, that we will stand by them. As a Nation, we adults will strive
to provide for them, to look out for them, and to be their friends and
their partners. National Children's Day reminds us we live both for
today and tomorrow. National Children's Day is a celebration of our
Nation's pride and hope in our children now and for the future.
I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Graham, DeWine, Chafee,
Gorton, Kassebaum, Spector, Stevens, Thurmond, Frist, Warner, and Lott
for their continued support of this effort. Our bipartisan efforts
during this Congress ensure that every day will be National Children's
Day, but on the second Sunday in October, we should all pause for a
moment and remember those for whom we all work--our children.
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