[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF H. CON. RES. 302, NATIONAL KIDSDAY AND NATIONAL FAMILY 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 
302, recognizing the importance of children and families in the United 
States and expressing support for the goals of National KidsDay and 
National Family Month. I want to thank Representatives Paul McHale, 
Frank Wolf, Harold Ford, Nancy Johnson, and Deborah Pryce, who joined 
me in introducing this resolution last July, as well as Representative 
Walter Jones and the many other Members who helped bring it to the 
floor today.
  We live in an increasingly stressful society these days. Perhaps no 
one feels this stress more acutely than our Nation's children. The 
pressures of crime, drugs, violence and broken homes are robbing many 
children of the joys of childhood. There is a growing concern that too 
many kids are in crisis, and that no one is speaking out for them or 
trying to help.
  That is what this resolution is all about. It is a simple, 
straightforward, bipartisan appeal on behalf of the children in our 
Nation to pay more attention to their needs, to provide them with a 
healthy and safe environment, and to give them hope for a secure and 
prosperous future. The resolution also expresses support for two 
particular initiatives which are being undertaken on behalf of kids: 
National KidsDay and National Family Month. Both of these initiatives 
have been created by KidsPeace, our Nation's oldest and largest not-
for-profit organization dedicated solely to serving the needs of kids 
in crisis.
  National KidsDay, observed on the third Saturday in September, 
encourages parents, grandparents and caregivers to spend a day with 
their children just having fun, and giving them a break from the 
strains of everyday life. National Family Month is celebrated during 
the five-week period between Mother's Day and Father's Day. Each week 
focuses on a specific value that families should provide to their 
children, including: a safe and secure home; people they can trust; 
love and value; the power and freedom to grow; and hope for the future.
  Mr. Speaker, children are our most precious gift. We cannot afford to 
let even one child slip through the cracks. KidsPeace and other 
organizations are doing a wonderful job of reaching out to those 
children who are most at risk in society, and helping them develop the 
courage and skills necessary to overcome crisis. But no matter how hard 
they try, these organizations cannot take the place of loving parents, 
stable homes, and a healthy environment in which kids can feel safe, 
loved and positive about their lives and their futures.
  This resolution is small in scope but it is large in symbolism. It 
sends a message to children that we care about them, we understand 
their problems, we share their dreams, and we want them to enjoy life 
to the fullest. As Robert Kennedy said: ``When one of us prospers, all 
of us prosper. When one of us fails, so do we all.'' I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution and give all our children a 
chance to prosper.

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