[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E575]]
          SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL FLAG DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague 
Shelley Berkley to introduce this concurrent resolution supporting 
National Children's Memorial Flag Day.
  This concurrent resolution supports the commemoration of the 4th 
Friday of each April as National Children's Memorial Flag Day. In 
addition this resolution encourages national, State, and local agencies 
and private organizations to fly the Children's Memorial Flag to 
remember the children lost to violence and to raise public awareness 
about the continuing problem of violence against children.
  I support this bill nationally because of its successful observance 
in my Congressional district. In 1996, the Alameda County Board of 
Supervisors adopted the Children's Memorial Flag Project, and 
established a National Children's Memorial Day on the fourth Friday in 
the month of April to remember children who have died by violence. I 
want to commend Supervisor Gail Steele of Alameda County for her 
tireless work and dedication to get this resolution adopted. In 
addition, the California Assembly formally declared the fourth Friday 
in April as a statewide annual observance day. The Child Welfare League 
of America has adopted Alameda County's Children's Memorial Flag and 
promotes it nationally.
  This Congressional resolution is particularly timely in the wake of 
the two school shootings in California at Granite Hills High School in 
El Cajon, California and Santana High School in Santee, California. 
Unfortunately, acts of violence against children happen far too often. 
According to the Child Welfare League of America, three infants and 
children die from abuse and neglect in the U.S. each day, and ten 
children die a day as a result of gun violence. In fact, more children 
lose their lives to criminal violence in the U.S. than in any of the 26 
industrialized nations of the world.
  We have lost far too many children in violent, preventable deaths. I 
encourage my colleagues in Congress to work with renewed resolve to 
ensure that our children have a full opportunity to become healthy and 
productive adults. Even one child lost is one child too many.
  I urge my fellow members to support the National Children's Memorial 
Flag Day concurrent resolution.

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