[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 341--TO URGE THE RESOLUTION OF CLAIMS RELATED TO THE 
      CONFISCATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY

  Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Ensign) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 341

       Whereas the Government of the Italian Republic confiscated 
     the property of Mr. Pier Talenti, a citizen of the United 
     States, and has failed to compensate Mr. Talenti for that 
     property;
       Whereas the Government of Italy has an obligation under the 
     Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, signed at Rome 
     February 2, 1948 (63 Stat. 2255) between the United States 
     and the Italian Republic to provide compensation to Mr. 
     Talenti for the confiscated property;
       Whereas the failure of the Government of Italy to 
     compensate Mr. Talenti runs counter to such Government's 
     treaty obligations and to accepted international standards;
       Whereas section 1611 of H.R. 1757, 105th Congress, as 
     passed by the Senate on June 17, 1997, expressed the sense of 
     Congress that the ``Italian Republic must honor its Treaty 
     obligations with regard to the confiscated property of Mr. 
     Pier Talenti by negotiating a prompt resolution of Mr. 
     Talenti's case, and that the Department of State should 
     continue to press the Italian government to resolve Mr. 
     Talenti's claim.'';
       Whereas the Government of Italy has not responded to 
     Diplomatic Note 674 issued in 1996, urging such Government to 
     negotiate a settlement with Mr. Talenti; and
       Whereas Mr. Talenti has exhausted all legal remedies 
     available to him under the Italian judicial system and has 
     not received ``just and effective compensation'' for the 
     confiscated property from the Government of Italy as required 
     under the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Government of Italy should--
       (A) fulfill the requirements of the Treaty of Friendship, 
     Commerce and Navigation signed at Rome February 2, 1948 (63 
     Stat. 2255) between the United States and the Italian 
     Republic with respect to the property of Mr. Pier Talenti 
     that was confiscated by such Government; and
       (B) make reasonable efforts to effect a prompt resolution 
     of Mr. Talenti's claims under such Treaty; and
       (2) the Secretary of State should--
       (A) continue to press the Government of Italy to resolve 
     Mr. Talenti's claims; and
       (B) take any further measures, including all appropriate 
     diplomatic initiatives, that the Secretary determines could 
     assist Mr. Talenti in receiving such compensation from the 
     Government of Italy.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 342--DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2004, AS ``DIA DE LOS 
      NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS'', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

                              S. Res. 342

       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 as of 2003, approximately 
     12,300,000 Hispanic children live 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 United States 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 for 
     the children of the United States will provide an opportunity 
     for children to reflect on their future, to articulate their 
     dreams and aspirations, and to 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 
     Hispanics 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, 2004, 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 United States 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 and 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 to 
     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 to 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 2004 as Dia de 
los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans.
  Nations throughout the world, 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 Americans 
Hispanic families continue the tradition of honoring their children on 
this special day by celebrating Dia de los Ninos in their homes.
  We have no greater resource than our children and the designation of 
a day to honor them will help affirm their importance to the future of 
our country. This special recognition of children will also affirm to 
the people of the United States the significance of family, education, 
and community.
  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 you to join me in supporting America's youth by supporting 
this resolution designating April 30, 2004 Dia de los Ninos: 
Celebrating Young Americans.

                          ____________________