[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 106 (Thursday, July 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8292-S8293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 139--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 24, 2001, AS ``FAMILY 
             DAY--A DAY TO EAT DINNER WITH YOUR CHILDREN''

  Mr. BIDEN (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 139

       Whereas the use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol 
     and nicotine constitute the greatest threats to the well-
     being of the Nation's children;
       Whereas surveys conducted by the National Center on 
     Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University have 
     consistently found that children and teenagers who routinely 
     eat dinner with their families are far less likely to use 
     illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol;
       Whereas teenagers who virtually never eat dinner with their 
     families are 72 percent more likely than the average teenager 
     to use illegal drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes;
       Whereas teenagers who almost always eat dinner with their 
     families are 31 percent less likely than the average teenager 
     to use illegal drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes;
       Whereas the correlation between family dinners and reduced 
     risk for teenage substance abuse are well-documented;
       Whereas parental influence is known to be 1 of the most 
     crucial factors in determining the likelihood of substance 
     abuse by teenagers; and
       Whereas family dinners have long constituted a pillar of 
     family life in America: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 24, 2001, as ``Family Day--A Day 
     to Eat Dinner With Your Children'';

[[Page S8293]]

       (2) recognizes that eating dinner as a family is an 
     important step toward raising drug-free children; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon--
       (A) the parents of the children of the United States to 
     observe the day by eating dinner with their children; and
       (B) the people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President I rise today with my colleague Senator 
Grassley to introduce a resolution to designate Monday, September 24, 
2001 as ``Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children.'' A 
similar resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives 
by Representative Rangel.
  Last year, the Senate passed the first Family Day resolution. Since 
that time, a number of States have followed suit. The Governors of 
several States--including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, 
Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and South Carolina, 
have already issued Family Day proclamations and additional States are 
expected to do so in the near future. Family Day has been endorsed by 
the National Family Partnership, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the 
National Association of Counties, the National Fatherhood Initiative, 
the National Restaurant Association, Join Together, the National 
Council on Family Relations, and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 
America. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also urging its member 
chambers to adopt Family Day.
  The idea for the resolution grew out of research done by The National 
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, CASA, a 
New York-based research organization led by former Secretary of Health 
Education and Welfare Joseph A Califano, Jr. Among CASA's many projects 
is an annual survey of the attitudes of teens and their parents on 
issues related to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
  In its past three surveys, CASA has found that the more often a child 
eats dinner with his or her parents, the less likely that child is to 
use addictive substances. The results from the 1999 survey were the 
most striking, revealing that teens who almost always eat dinner with 
their families are 31 percent less likely than the average teen to 
smoke, drink or use illegal drugs and that teens who virtually never 
eat dinner with their families are 72 percent more likely to engage in 
these activities.
  Of course, having dinner as a family is just a proxy for spending 
time with kids. It is not the meat, potatoes and vegetables that alter 
a child's likelihood to use drugs. It is the everyday time spent with 
mom and dad, the two most important role models in most kids lives.
  I do not believe that this resolution will be the silver bullet to 
solving this Nation's drug problem. But I do feel these statistics are 
telling. CASA President Joe Califano talks about ``Parent Power.'' It 
is important that parents know the power they have over their 
children's decisions and the power that they have to deter kids from 
drinking, smoking or using drugs. For example, nearly half of the teens 
who have never used marijuana say that it was lessons learned from 
their parents that helped them to say no.
  Unfortunately, many parents are pessimistic about their ability to 
keep their kids drug-free; forty-five percent admit that they are 
resigned to the fact that their child will use an illegal drug in the 
future.
  This pessimism is often reinforced by news reports that indicate that 
while most parents say that they have talked to their kids about the 
dangers of drugs, only a minority of teens recall the discussion. 
Rather than be discouraged by this apparent disconnect, I think it 
should teach us an important lesson: that talking to kids about drugs 
ought not just be a one-time conversation. Rather, it must be an 
ongoing discussion.
  Keeping up on children's lives, including knowing who their friends 
are and what they are doing after school, is critical. The experts tell 
us that some of the telltale signs that a child is drinking or using 
illicit drugs include behavior changes, change in social circle, lack 
of interest in hobbies and isolation from family. These changes can be 
subtle; picking up on them requires a watchful eye.
  Eating dinner as a family will not guarantee that a child will remain 
drug-free. But family dinners are an important way for parents to 
instill their values in their children as well as remain connected with 
the challenges that children face and help them learn how to cope with 
problems and pressures without resorting to smoking, drinking or using 
drugs.
  I sincerely hope that all of my colleagues join me to support this 
resolution and send a message to parents that they can play a powerful 
role in shaping the decisions their kids make regarding drinking, 
smoking and drug use.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague 
Senator Biden in introducing a bi-partisan resolution designating 
September 24, 2001 as ``Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your 
Children.'' This resolution recognizes the benefits of eating dinner as 
a family, especially as a way to keep children from using illegal 
drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.
  Many of us here in this Chamber are parents, and some of us are even 
grand parents. We know the trials and difficulties of raising children. 
But we also know the rewards, as a father, one of my proudest moments 
is seeing the success of my children as they raise their own families. 
What I know, what many parents have come to realize, and what we are 
trying to emphasize through Family Day, is spending time with your 
children, having dinner with them regularly, is one of the best ways to 
develop and maintain a healthy family, and encourage our children to 
make healthy choices.
  Senator Biden spoke about the most recent survey from the National 
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. And those are scary numbers, 
but also hopeful ones. Kids listen. Teens do recognize what their 
parents say. They see what their parents do. Communication is the key 
to all of this, and communication at the dinner table is a wonderful 
place for this to happen. All of this shows how essential it is for 
parents to get involved in their children's lives.
  The family unit is the backbone of this country. Solutions to our 
drug problems involve all of us working together. Parents and 
communities must be engaged and I am committed to help making that 
happen. Parents need to provide a strong moral context to help our 
young people know how to make the right choices. They need to know how 
to say ``no,'' that saying no is okay, that saying no to drugs is the 
right thing to do--not just the safe or healthier thing, but the right 
thing.
  I am pleased to join with Senator Biden, the National Center on 
Addiction and Substance Abuse, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 
America, and the National Restaurant Association in designating 
September 24, 2001, as ``Family Day: a Day to Eat Dinner With Your 
Children.'' I urge our colleagues to join us.

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