[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9817-S9818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 436--DESIGNATING THE SECOND SUNDAY IN THE MONTH OF 
         DECEMBER 2004 AS ``NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL DAY''

  Mr. REID submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 436

       Whereas approximately 80,000 infants, children, teenagers, 
     and young adults of families living throughout the United 
     States die each year from myriad causes;
       Whereas the death of an infant, child, teenager, or young 
     adult of a family is considered to be one of the greatest 
     tragedies that a parent or family will ever endure during a 
     lifetime;
       Whereas a supportive environment, empathy, and 
     understanding are considered critical factors in the healing 
     process of a family that is coping with and recovering from 
     the loss of a loved one; and
       Whereas April is National Child Abuse Prevention month: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL DAY.

       The Senate--
       (1) designates the second Sunday in the month of December 
     2004 as ``National Children's Memorial Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Children's Memorial Day'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities in remembrance of the many infants, 
     children, teenagers, and young adults of families in the 
     United States who have died.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that 
would designate the second Sunday in December as ``National Children's 
Memorial Day.''
  The resolution would set aside this day to remember all the children 
who die in the United States each year. While I realize the families of 
these children deal with the grief of their loss every day, I would 
like to commemorate the lives of these children with a special day as 
well.
  The death of a child is a shattering experience for any family. I 
have had constituents share their heart-wrenching stories with me about 
the death of their son or daughter. I have heard heroic stories of kids 
battling cancer or diabetes, and tragic stories of car accidents and 
drownings.
  Each of these families has had their own experience, but they must 
all continue with their lives and live with the incredible pain of 
losing a child. Establishing a day to remember children who passed away 
will lend encouragement and support to bereaved families as they work 
through their grief. It is important for these families to know that 
they are not alone.
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 SENATE RESOLUTION 437--CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOSEPH IRWIN MILLER OF 
                           COLUMBUS, INDIANA

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

                              S. Res. 437

       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller devoted his entire life to the 
     welfare of his family, the employees of Cummins, Inc., and 
     his community;
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller demonstrated his lifelong love 
     of country by serving honorably and courageously in the 
     United States Navy Air Corps during World War II;
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller's prowess and integrity as a 
     businessman fashioned Cummins, Inc., into a respected 
     industry leader whose unyielding commitment to its employees 
     and community established a superior legacy of excellence and 
     civic stewardship that will endure for years to come;
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller was instrumental in 
     transforming the place of his birth, Columbus, Indiana, into 
     a thriving center for architecture and the arts;
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller gave unselfishly his time and 
     treasure to numerous causes and foundations dear to his 
     ideals through his role as trusted advisor and generous 
     philanthropist;
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller was a respected counselor to 
     leaders at home and abroad, and made immeasurable 
     contributions to the advancement of human rights everywhere; 
     and
       Whereas Joseph Irwin Miller will be remembered as a loving 
     husband to his wife Xenia, a devoted father to his 5 
     children, and a caring grandfather to his 10 grandchildren: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) has learned with profound sorrow of the death of Joseph 
     Irwin Miller on August 16, 2004, and extends its condolences 
     to the Miller family, especially his wife Xenia, and his 
     children Margaret, Catherine, Elizabeth, Hugh, and William;
       (2) expresses its profound gratitude to Joseph Irwin Miller 
     for the services that he rendered to the United States in the 
     Navy;
       (3) recognizes Joseph Irwin Miller's distinguished 
     achievements in industry, his contributions to the world of 
     architecture, his promotion of the arts and humanities, and 
     his advancement of human rights; and
       (4) recognizes with respect Joseph Irwin Miller's integrity 
     and guidance as a leader, his treatment of his fellow 
     citizens with grace and humility, and his loyalty, 
     contributions, and service to the City of Columbus, the State 
     of Indiana, and the United States.

[[Page S9818]]

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 438--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE 
SENATE THAT CONGRESS SHOULD RAISE AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE 
         UNITED STATES AND ITS DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON FAMILIES

  Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. 
Clinton, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Mr. Carper, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reid, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Leahy, 
Mr. Kyl, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Daschle, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
Durbin, Ms. Cantwell, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 438

       Whereas 2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the enactment 
     of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-
     322, 108 Stat. 1902);
       Whereas since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act 
     of 1994, communities have made significant progress in 
     reducing domestic violence such that between 1993 and 2001, 
     the incidents of nonfatal domestic violence fell 49 percent;
       Whereas since created by the Violence Against Women Act of 
     1994, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has answered 
     over 1,000,000 calls;
       Whereas States have passed over 660 State laws pertaining 
     to domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault;
       Whereas the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has helped 
     make strides toward breaking the cycle of violence, but there 
     remains much work to be done;
       Whereas domestic violence affects women, men, and children 
     of all racial, social, religious, ethnic, and economic groups 
     in the United States;
       Whereas on average, more than 3 women are murdered by their 
     husbands or boyfriends in the United States every day;
       Whereas women who have been abused are much more likely to 
     suffer from chronic pain, diabetes, depression, unintended 
     pregnancies, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted 
     infections, including HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas only about 10 percent of primary care physicians 
     routinely screen for domestic violence during new patient 
     visits, and 9 percent routinely screen during periodic 
     checkups;
       Whereas each year, about 324,000 pregnant women in the 
     United States are battered by the men in their lives, leading 
     to pregnancy complications, including low weight gain, 
     anemia, infections, and first and second trimester bleeding;
       Whereas every 2 minutes, someone in the United States is 
     sexually assaulted;
       Whereas almost 25 percent of women surveyed had been raped 
     or physically assaulted by a spouse or boyfriend at some 
     point in their lives;
       Whereas in 2002 alone, 250,000 women and girls older than 
     the age of 12 were raped or sexually assaulted;
       Whereas 1 out of every 12 women has been stalked in her 
     lifetime;
       Whereas some cultural norms, economics, language barriers, 
     and limited access to legal services and information may make 
     some immigrant women particularly vulnerable to abuse;
       Whereas 1 in 5 adolescent girls in the United States 
     becomes a victim of physical or sexual abuse, or both, in a 
     dating relationship;
       Whereas 40 percent of girls ages 14 to 17 report knowing 
     someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend;
       Whereas annually, approximately 8,800,000 children in the 
     United States witness domestic violence;
       Whereas witnessing violence is a risk factor for having 
     long-term physical and mental health problems (including 
     substance abuse), being a victim of abuse, and becoming a 
     perpetrator of abuse;
       Whereas a boy who witnesses his father's domestic violence 
     is 10 times more likely to engage in domestic violence than a 
     boy from a nonviolent home;
       Whereas the cost of domestic violence, including rape, 
     physical assault, and stalking, exceeds $5,800,000,000 each 
     year, of which $4,100,000,000 is spent on direct medical and 
     mental health care services;
       Whereas 44 percent of the Nation's mayors identified 
     domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness;
       Whereas 25 to 50 percent of abused women reported they lost 
     a job due, in part, to domestic violence;
       Whereas there is a need to increase the public awareness 
     about, and understanding of, domestic violence and the needs 
     of battered women and their children;
       Whereas the month of October 2004 has been recognized as 
     National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month for 
     activities furthering awareness of domestic violence; and
       Whereas the dedication and successes of those working 
     tirelessly to end domestic violence and the strength of the 
     survivors of domestic violence should be recognized: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Domestic 
     Violence Awareness Month; and
       (2) expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should 
     continue to raise awareness of domestic violence in the 
     United States and its devastating impact on families.
                                 ______
                                 

   SENATE RESOLUTION 439--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WISCONSIN 
NATIVE AMERICANS TO THE OPENING OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN 
                                 INDIAN

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Kohl) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 439

       Whereas the National Museum of the American Indian Act (20 
     U.S.C. 80q et seq.) established within the Smithsonian 
     Institution the National Museum of the American Indian and 
     authorized the construction of a facility to house the 
     National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall 
     in the District of Columbia;
       Whereas the National Museum of the American Indian 
     officially opened on September 21, 2004;
       Whereas the National Museum of the American Indian will be 
     the only national museum devoted exclusively to the history 
     and art of cultures indigenous to the Americas, and will give 
     all Americans the opportunity to learn about the cultural 
     legacy, historic grandeur, and contemporary culture of Native 
     Americans, including the tribes that presently and 
     historically occupy the State of Wisconsin;
       Whereas the land that comprises the State of Wisconsin has 
     been home to numerous Native American tribes for many years, 
     including 11 federally recognized tribal governments: the Bad 
     River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Forest 
     County Potawatomi Indian Community, the Ho-Chunk Nation of 
     Wisconsin, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
     Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, the Lac du Flambeau Band of 
     Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, the Menominee 
     Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of 
     Wisconsin, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
     Indians, the Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake) Community of 
     Wisconsin, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, and 
     the Stockbridge Munsee Community of Wisconsin; and
       Whereas members of Native American tribes have greatly 
     contributed to the unique culture and identity of Wisconsin 
     by lending words from their languages to the names of many 
     places in the State and by sharing their customs and beliefs 
     with others who chose to make Wisconsin their home: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the official opening of the National Museum 
     of the American Indian;
       (2) recognizes the native people of Wisconsin, and of the 
     entire United States, and their past, present, and future 
     contributions to America's culture, history, and tradition; 
     and
       (3) requests that the Senate send an enrolled copy of this 
     resolution to the chairpersons of Wisconsin's federally 
     recognized tribes.
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  SENATE RESOLUTION 440--DESIGNATING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2004, AS 
                       ``FEED AMERICA THURSDAY''

  Mr. HATCH submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 440

       Whereas Thanksgiving Day celebrates the spirit of selfless 
     giving and an appreciation for family and friends;
       Whereas the spirit of Thanksgiving Day is a virtue upon 
     which our Nation was founded;
       Whereas 33,000,000 Americans, including 13,000,000 
     children, continue to live in households that do not have an 
     adequate supply of food;
       Whereas almost 3,000,000 of those children experience 
     hunger; and
       Whereas selfless sacrifice breeds a genuine spirit of 
     Thanksgiving, both affirming and restoring fundamental 
     principles in our society: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates Thursday, November 18, 2004, as ``Feed 
     America Thursday''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to sacrifice 2 
     meals on Thursday, November 18, 2004, and to donate the money 
     that they would have spent on food to a religious or 
     charitable organization of their choice for the purpose of 
     feeding the hungry.

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