[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4623-S4624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             DIA DE LOS NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 342, and the Senate 
proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 342) designating April 30, 2004, as 
     Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. 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 resolution be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 342) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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

[[Page S4624]]

     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.

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