[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12250-S12251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF SENATE ON DESIGNATING NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY

  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 260.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 260) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that October 11, 1998, should be designated as 
     ``National Children's Day''.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. COATS. 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 be printed at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 260) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 260

       Whereas the people of the United States should celebrate 
     children as the most valuable asset of the Nation;
       Whereas 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 crises 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 
     aside 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 and 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

[[Page S12251]]

       Whereas children are the responsibility of all Americans 
     and 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--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that October 11, 1998, 
     should be designated as ``National Children's Day''; and
       (2) the President is requested to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Children's Day'' with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

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