[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3455-S3456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2002, AS ``DIA DE LOS NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG 
                              AMERICANS''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 355, S. Res. 
249.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 249) designating April 30, 2002, as 
     ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans,'' and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid on 
the table, and any statements regarding this matter be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 249) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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;
       (C) activities that provide opportunities for children of 
     all backgrounds to learn about one another's cultures and 
     share ideas;

[[Page S3456]]

       (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.

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