[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3173-S3174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 249--DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2002, AS ``DIA DE LOS 
      NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS'', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. HATCH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Finance.

                              S. Res. 249

       Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially 
     within the Western hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los Ninos'' 
     on the 30th of April, in recognition and celebration of their 
     country's future--their children;
       Whereas children represent the hopes and dreams of the 
     people of the United States;
       Whereas children are the center of American families;
       Whereas children should be nurtured and invested in to 
     preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, and the 
     American spirit;
       Whereas Hispanics in the United States, the youngest and 
     fastest growing ethnic community in the Nation, continue the 
     tradition of honoring their children on this day, and wish to 
     share this custom with the rest of the Nation;
       Whereas 1 in 4 Americans is projected to be of Hispanic 
     descent by the year 2050, and there are, in 2002, 
     approximately 12.3 million Hispanic children in the United 
     States;
       Whereas traditional Hispanic family life centers largely on 
     children;
       Whereas the primary teachers of family values, morality, 
     and culture are parents and family members, and we rely on 
     children to pass on these family values, morals, and culture 
     to future generations;
       Whereas more than 500,000 children drop out of school each 
     year and Hispanic dropout rates are unacceptably high;
       Whereas the importance of literacy and education are most 
     often communicated to children through family members;
       Whereas families should be encouraged to engage in family 
     and community activities that include extended and elderly 
     family members and encourage children to explore, develop 
     confidence, and pursue their dreams;
       Whereas the designation of a day to honor the children of 
     the Nation will help affirm for the people of the United 
     States the significance of family, education, and community;
       Whereas the designation of a day of special recognition of 
     children of the United States will provide an opportunity to 
     children to reflect on their future, to articulate their 
     dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security in the 
     support of their family members and communities;
       Whereas the National Latino Children's Institute, serving 
     as a voice for children, has worked with cities throughout 
     the country to declare April 30 as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''--a day to bring together 
     Latinos and other communities nationwide to celebrate and 
     uplift children; and
       Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of 
     all its people, and people should be encouraged to celebrate 
     the gifts of children to society--their curiosity, laughter, 
     faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and dreams: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 30, 2002, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to join with all 
     children, families, organizations, communities, churches, 
     cities, and States across the Nation to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies, including--
       (A) activities that center around children, and are free or 
     minimal in cost so as to encourage and facilitate the 
     participation of all our people;
       (B) activities that are positive, uplifting, and that help 
     children express their hopes and dreams;

[[Page S3174]]

       (C) activities that provide opportunities for children of 
     all backgrounds to learn about one another's cultures and 
     share ideas;
       (D) activities that include all members of the family, and 
     especially extended and elderly family members, so as to 
     promote greater communication among the generations within a 
     family, enabling children to appreciate and benefit from the 
     experiences and wisdom of their elderly family members;
       (E) activities that provide opportunities for families 
     within a community to get acquainted; and
       (F) activities that provide children with the support they 
     need to develop skills and confidence, and find the inner 
     strength--the will and fire of the human spirit--to make 
     their dreams come true.

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise to 
submit a resolution designating the 30th day of April 2002 as ``Dia de 
los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans.''
  Nations throughout the world, and especially within Latin America, 
celebrate Dia de los Ninos on the 30th of April, in recognition and 
celebration of their country's future, their children. Many American 
Hispanic families continue the tradition of honoring their children on 
this day by celebrating Dia de los Ninos in their homes.
  The designation of a day to honor the children of the Nation will 
help affirm for the people of the United States the significance of 
family, education, and community. This special recognition of children 
will provide them with an opportunity to reflect on their future, 
articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security 
in the support of their family members and communities. This resolution 
calls on the American people to join with all children, families, 
organizations, communities, churches, cities, and States across the 
Nation to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting America's youth by 
endorsing the resolution designating April 30, 2002 Dia de los Ninos: 
Celebrating Young Americans.

                          ____________________