[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 5, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3204-S3205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MR. FRED McFEELY ROGERS

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 16 submitted 
earlier today by Senators Santorum and Specter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 16) honoring the life 
     and work of Mr. Fred McFeely Rogers.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to pay tribute 
to Mr. Fred Rogers, the beloved host of the Public Broadcasting 
Service, PBS children's television program, Mister Rogers' 
Neighborhood.
  For more than 30 years, America has been fortunate to have one of the 
most caring and dedicated neighbors in Mr. Rogers. His soft-spoken and 
patient manner put viewers at ease and allowed Mr. Rogers to 
courageously address adult topics such as death, divorce, and anger. 
The neighborhood of make believe residents helped to illustrate 
differences in people and teach children the importance of cooperation. 
From King Friday and Queen Sara Saturday to Henrietta Pussycat and 
Daniel Stripped Tiger, diversity, tolerance, and problem solving were 
not only taught, but celebrated.
  Mr. Rogers is a role model for people and parents everywhere. His 
ability to communicate with children offered them a place, every 
morning, where they felt accepted and understood. Mr. Rogers, dressed 
in his signature cardigan sweater and tying his tennis shoes, often 
sang the song ``You Are Special'' in which he said, ``You are my 
friend. You are special to me. You are the only one like you. Like you, 
my friend, I like you.'' I cannot think of a more important lesson to 
teach children than the lesson of self-esteem. Mr. Rogers taught self-
esteem, but he was never limited in his lessons. Just as importantly, 
he helped his viewers explore subjects they were curious about and 
develop their own sense of self and creativity through imagination, all 
the while helping to teach self-discipline.
  Mr. Rogers was much more than simply a great neighbor. Born in 
Latrobe, PA, on March 20, 1928, Fred Rogers began his television career 
in New York City in 1951. With a music composition degree from Rollins 
College, Mr. Rogers served as an apprentice at NBC managing the musical 
selections for some of the network's earliest shows. In 1953, after 
marrying college sweetheart Sara Joanne Byrd, Mr. Rogers returned to 
Pennsylvania to develop programming at WQED in Pittsburgh. It was at 
WQED that Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood really flourished. After working as 
a puppeteer, Mr. Rogers had the opportunity to develop his own 15 
minute segment that eventually became the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood that 
America knows and loves today. Over thirty years and almost 900 
episodes later, the messages that Mr. Rogers delivered are as vital now 
as they were in 1960.
  Mr. Rogers' accomplishments reach far beyond the boundaries of the 
neighborhood. Ordained by the Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1962, Mr. Rogers 
was active in child and family advocacy on all levels. In 1972, Mr. 
Rogers formed Family Communications, Inc. to produce educational 
entertainment for children and families and resources for teachers. Mr. 
Rogers most recently partnered with the Western Pennsylvania Caring 
Foundation to establish the Caring Place for grieving children in an 
effort to make sure that children who experienced a loss did not feel 
so alone.
  During his career of service to children, families, and communities, 
Mr. Rogers was the recipient of two George Foster Peabody Awards, four 
Emmys, and two ``Lifetime Achievement Awards'' from the National 
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the TV Critics Association. 
In July 2002, Mr. Rogers was awarded the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom--the Nation's highest civilian honor--for his dedication to the 
well-being of children and for a career that demonstrates the 
importance of kindness, compassion, and learning. All of these awards 
added to the 30 honorary degrees that Mr. Rogers received throughout 
the years.
  Mr. Rogers was no stranger to Capitol Hill. After testifying before 
the Senate in 1969, Mr. Rogers made an almost annual visit to Capitol 
Hill to express how deeply he believed in the importance of education. 
I was honored to have Mr. Rogers as a guest in my office during his 
many visits to the Senate. While walking around the U.S. Capitol with 
him, my Senate colleagues and their staff flocked to Mr. Rogers as if 
he were royalty, which he most certainly was. Always kind enough to 
stop and say hello or pose for a picture, Mr. Rogers truly epitomized 
the quintessential teacher, father, friend, guide, and neighbor.
  Mr. Rogers' ability to talk about the things that really matter in 
childhood have made him an inspiration to two generations of children 
already, and to countless generations to come. Our nation's children 
are better today for having had the counsel and wisdom of Pittsburgh's 
own Mr. Rogers. All of us were truly fortunate to have had the best 
neighbor in Mr. Rogers.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 16) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 16

       Whereas Fred Rogers was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 
     1928;

[[Page S3205]]

       Whereas Fred Rogers earned a degree in music composition, 
     studied child development at the University of Pittsburgh, 
     attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and was ordained a 
     Presbyterian minister;
       Whereas Fred Rogers created ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' in 
     1966, and hosted the program through the Public Broadcasting 
     Service (PBS) from 1968 through 2000;
       Whereas ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' is the longest-running 
     program on PBS;
       Whereas ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' was created and filmed 
     in Fred Rogers' hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
       Whereas Fred Rogers' caring, genuine spirit reflects the 
     values shared by the people of southwestern Pennsylvania and 
     by so many neighborhoods throughout the country;
       Whereas ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' continues to be a 
     nurturing, educational program for children emphasizing the 
     value of every individual and helping children understand how 
     they fit into their families, communities, and country;
       Whereas Fred Rogers was appointed Chairman of the Forum on 
     Mass Media and Child Development of the White House 
     Conference on Youth in 1968;
       Whereas ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' won 4 Emmy Awards, 
     ``Lifetime Achievement'' Awards, and 2 George Foster Peabody 
     Awards;
       Whereas Fred Rogers won every major award in television for 
     which he was eligible;
       Whereas Fred Rogers was inducted into the Television Hall 
     of Fame in 1999;
       Whereas President George W. Bush awarded Mr. Rogers the 
     Presidential Medal of Honor in 2002;
       Whereas Fred Rogers was also a prolific songwriter and 
     author; and
       Whereas Fred Rogers was presented with over 40 honorary 
     degrees from colleges and universities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress recognizes and honors Mr. Fred 
     McFeely Rogers for--
       (1) dedicating his career to the educational and 
     imaginative children's program ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'';
       (2) the accomplishments of this influential program and the 
     emphasis it places on the value of each individual within his 
     or her community; and
       (3) the compassionate, moral example he set for millions of 
     American children for over 30 years.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF ENROLLED RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this concurrent resolution to Mrs. Joanne Rogers.

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