[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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