[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4602-S4604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DIA DE LOS NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS

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          COMMENDING THE VIRGINIA RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

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           NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK

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 COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed en bloc to the following resolutions submitted earlier today: 
S. Res. 128, S. Res. 129, S. Res. 130, and S. Res. 131.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senate will proceed to 
the measures en bloc.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to support an important 
resolution designating the 30th day of April 2005 as ``Dia de los 
Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans.''
  Nations throughout the world, and 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 American 
Hispanic families continue the tradition of honoring their children on 
this day by celebrating Dia de los Ninos in their homes.
  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. This special recognition of children 
will provide us with an opportunity to reflect on their future, 
articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security 
in the support of their family members and communities. 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.
  Joining me as original cosponsors to this resolution are John Cornyn, 
Charles E. Grassley, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mel Martinez, and Lisa 
Murkowski.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in promptly passing this 
resolution designating April 30, 2005, Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating 
Young Americans.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I rise, on behalf of myself, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Kennedy, to support a bipartisan resolution 
calling on the American people to observe North American Occupational 
Safety and Health Week, May 1 through May 7, 2005. This week is 
designed to increase the awareness and importance of preventing injury 
and illness in the workplace. I introduced a similar resolution in May 
2002, and I am proud to sponsor it again.
  The focus of this year's North American Occupational Safety and 
Health Week is on the estimated 5,500 people killed in workplace 
accidents and the millions who suffer on-the-job injuries and illnesses 
each year. The week will focus on preventing such tragedies from 
occurring and draw attention to the positive return on investment for 
businesses that invest in occupational safety and health.
  The Department of Labor recently gave the Monsanto research facility 
in Waterman, IL, its top safety classification: Star Certification in 
the Voluntary Protection Program. VPP is a program that goes beyond 
current workplace regulations to establish cooperative relationships 
between management and workers to implement a comprehensive health and 
safety system. It requires rigorous review by the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration and involves companies with injury rates 
which average about 53 percent lower than the average for their 
industry.
  OSHA also recognized three Illinois beef packing companies for their 
exemplary injury and illness records. Aurora Packing Company, Inc., of 
North Aurora, New City Packing Company, Inc., of Aurora, and Prairie 
Packaging Company of Bridgeview were commended by OSHA's VPP. Aurora 
and New City have achieved Star Conditional status for 11 years now, 
and Prairie was recognized this year as a Merit Participant. Fewer than 
1,000 Federal worksites under Federal jurisdiction share this honor and 
I am very proud of their accomplishments. The Labor Department says VPP 
sites are ``models for what employers and employees can accomplish by 
working cooperatively with one another and with OSHA to achieve a level 
of worker protection that goes beyond compliance with Government 
regulations.'' The VPP program is a win-win situation for everyone 
because workers experience fewer illnesses and injuries, and companies 
can expect lower workers' compensation costs. While there is more work 
to be done to improve the health and safety of America's workers, I 
congratulate these firms for their achievements.
  The American Society of Safety Engineers, based in Des Plaines, IL, 
is a major proponent of North American Occupational Health and Safety 
Week and has sponsored this awareness week for many years. ASSE is the 
world's oldest and largest professional safety organization. It is a 
90-year-old nonprofit association and has more than 30,000 members. It 
is committed to protecting people, property, and the environment. 
Together with OSHA, ASSE will be working to educate employees, 
employers and the public about the positive benefits of occupational 
safety and health programs; raise the awareness of the role and 
contribution of safety, health, and environmental professionals; and 
reduce workplace injuries and illness by increasing awareness and 
implementation of safety and health programs.

[[Page S4603]]

  In addition to ASSE, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers, the 
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, the Academy of 
Certified Hazardous Materials Managers, the American Industrial Hygiene 
Association and the American National Standards Institute are all 
working toward the goal of a safer, healthier, working America and 
support this resolution.
  In support of that goal, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this bipartisan resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud to submit today with my friend 
and colleague Senator Specter a bipartisan resolution to designate May 
15, 2005, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Joining us in the 
introduction of this resolution are Senators Hatch, Biden, Brownback, 
Cornyn, DeWine, Durbin, Feingold, Feinstein, Kennedy, Kohl, Kyl, and 
Schumer.
  This is the ninth year running that I have been involved in the 
introduction of this resolution to keep alive in the memory of all 
Americans the sacrifice and commitment of those law enforcement 
officers who lost their lives serving their communities. For 8 years I 
introduced this resolution with my old friend and our former colleague 
Senator Campbell, a former deputy sheriff who was a true leader on this 
issue. Now I have teamed with Senator Specter, a former prosecutor who 
has witnessed first-hand the risks faced by law enforcement officers 
every day while they serve and protect our communities. His knowledge 
and experience in this area is a true asset to the American people and 
I thank him for his leadership on it.
  I also want to thank each of our Nation's brave law enforcement 
officers for their unwavering commitment to the safety and protection 
of their fellow citizens. They are real-life heroes, too many of whom 
too often give the ultimate sacrifice, and they remind us of how 
important it is to support and respect our state and local police 
officers.
  Currently, more than 850,000 men and women who guard our communities 
do so at great risk. Each year, 1 in 15 officers is assaulted, 1 in 46 
officers is injured, and 1 in 5,255 officers is killed in the line of 
duty in the United States every other day. After the hijacked planes 
hit the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, 72 
peace officers died while trying to ensure that their fellow citizens 
in those buildings got to safety. That act of terrorism resulted in the 
highest number of peace officers ever killed in a single incident in 
the history of our country.
  In 2004, 154 law enforcement officers died while serving in the line 
of duty, well below the decade-long average of 169 deaths annually, and 
a major drop from 2001 when a total of 237 officers were killed. A 
number of factors contributed to this reduction including better 
equipment and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, improved 
training and advanced emergency medical care. And, in total, more than 
17,500 men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice--of that number 
42 are police officers who have already been killed in 2005 while 
serving in the line of duty.
  In the 108th Congress, we shepherded into law a number of measures to 
issues to make a difference in the lives of all police officers and the 
communities they serve. We improved the Justice Department's Public 
Safety Officers Benefits Program by making law the Hometown Heroes 
Survivors Benefits Act, P.L. No. 108-182, which allows survivors of 
public safety officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or strokes while 
participating in non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activities 
to qualify for Federal survivor benefits.
  Also becoming law was the Campbell-Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
Grant Act, P.L. No. 108-372, which extends through fiscal year 2007 the 
authorization of appropriations for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
Grant Program that helps State, tribal and local jurisdictions purchase 
armor vests for use by law enforcement officers. I hope that with the 
help of this program we can make sure that every police officer who 
needs a bulletproof vest gets one.
  Last year, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which Senator 
Campbell and I championed in the Senate, was signed into law, P.L. No: 
108-277. This measure established national measures of uniformity and 
consistency to permit trained and certified on-duty, off-duty or 
retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in most 
situations so that they may respond immediately to crimes across State 
and other jurisdictional lines, as well as to protect themselves and 
their families from vindictive criminals.
  National Peace Officers Memorial Day will provide the people of the 
United States with the opportunity to honor the extraordinary service 
and sacrifice given year after year by our police forces. More than 
25,000 peace officers are expected to gather in Washington to join with 
the families of their fallen comrades. I hope my colleagues will join 
us in supporting passage of this important bipartisan resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the preambles 
be agreed to, the resolutions be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

                              S. Res. 128

       Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially 
     within the Western hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los 
     Ninos'', or ``Day of the Children'' 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, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''; and
       (2) calls 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 activities that--
       (A) center around children, and are free or minimal in cost 
     so as to encourage and facilitate the participation of all 
     our people;
       (B) are positive and uplifting and that help children 
     express their hopes and dreams;
       (C) provide opportunities for children of all backgrounds 
     to learn about one another's cultures and to share ideas;
       (D) 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;

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       (E) provide opportunities for families within a community 
     to get acquainted; and
       (F) 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.

                              S. Res. 129

       Whereas 2005 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 
     Virginia Retail Merchants Association (referred to in this 
     resolution as the ``Association'');
       Whereas on May 12 1905, the Association was formed to 
     encourage, stimulate, extend, and promote the business of 
     retail merchants in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to 
     promote the social, moral, and financial welfare of those 
     engaged in the business of retail merchandising;
       Whereas the Association has endeavored to curtail trade 
     abuses in the retail industry and other injurious practices 
     and to secure the cooperation of consumers, retail merchants, 
     and retail suppliers in producing healthy retail trade;
       Whereas the Association has worked to secure the enactment 
     of reasonable and proper laws to protect consumers and the 
     retail and services trade;
       Whereas it is the goal of the Association to encourage 
     proper and business-like methods in the conduct of business 
     affairs and to advance, by legitimate and fair means, the 
     interests of retail merchants and the free enterprise system;
       Whereas, in 1905, the Association chartered the Lynchburg 
     Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in 1906, the Association chartered the Retail 
     Merchants Association of Greater Richmond;
       Whereas, in 1907, the Association chartered the Petersburg 
     Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in 1913, the Association chartered the Hampton 
     Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in 1919, the Association chartered the Danville 
     Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in the 1950s, the Association chartered the 
     Franklin County Retail Merchants Association and the 
     Williamsburg Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in subsequent years, the Association chartered the 
     South Boston Retail Merchants Association and Charlottesville 
     Retail Merchants Association;
       Whereas, in 1978, the Association formed the Virginia 
     Retail Political Action Committee or VARPAC;
       Whereas the Association and its retail member associations 
     represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated 
     businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia; and
       Whereas the Association has been an active proponent of the 
     free enterprise system for 100 years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Virginia Retail Merchants Association 
     on its 100th anniversary; and
       (2) recognizes its years of service to the retail 
     community.

                              S. Res. 130

       Whereas every year more than 5,500 people die from job-
     related injuries and millions more suffer occupational 
     injuries and illnesses;
       Whereas every day millions of people go to and return home 
     from work safely due, in part, to the efforts of many unsung 
     heroes, such as occupational safety, health, and 
     environmental practitioners, who work day in and day out 
     identifying hazards and implementing safety and health 
     advances, in all industries and at all workplaces, aimed at 
     eliminating workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses;
       Whereas these occupational safety, health, and 
     environmental professionals work to prevent accidents, 
     injuries, and occupational diseases, create safer work and 
     leisure environments, develop safer products, and are 
     committed to protecting people, property, and the 
     environment;
       Whereas the work of these professionals in the areas of 
     health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness programs 
     contributes greatly to the improvement of overall employee 
     health, increased productivity, and reduction in health care 
     costs, and yields significant returns on investments in 
     occupational safety and health for the employer;
       Whereas our society has long recognized that a safe and 
     healthy workplace positively impacts employee morale, health, 
     and productivity;
       Whereas the more than 150,000 combined members of the 
     American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Academy of 
     Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM), the American 
     Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN), the 
     American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the 
     American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are occupational 
     safety, health, and environmental practitioners committed to 
     protecting people, property, and the environment;
       Whereas the purpose of ``North American Occupational Safety 
     and Health Week (NAOSH)'' is to increase the understanding of 
     the benefits of investing in occupational safety and health, 
     to demonstrate the positive impact that integrating effective 
     safety and health programs in the workplace and the community 
     has on the economy and business, to raise awareness of the 
     role and contribution of safety, health, and environmental 
     professionals in all areas, and to reduce workplace injuries 
     and illnesses by increasing awareness and implementation of 
     safety and health programs; and
       Whereas during the week of May 1 through May 7, 2005, and 
     throughout the year, the ASSE, ACHMM, AAOHN, AIHA, and ANSI, 
     and their respective memberships, will work to raise 
     employers', employees', and the public's understanding of the 
     importance of occupational safety, health, and the 
     environment in everyone's lives, and to provide valuable 
     information and resources aimed at decreasing further 
     workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 2005, as 
     ``North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 
     (NAOSH)'';
       (2) commends occupational safety, health, and environmental 
     professionals for their ongoing commitment to protecting 
     people, property, and the environment;
       (3) encourages all industries, organizations, community 
     leaders, employers, and employees to support educational 
     activities aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of 
     preventing illness, injury, and death in the workplace during 
     the week of May 1 through May 7, 2005, and throughout the 
     year; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     ``North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 
     (NAOSH)'' with appropriate programs and activities.

                              S. Res. 131

       Whereas the well-being of all citizens of the United States 
     is preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance 
     and dedication of law enforcement personnel;
       Whereas more than 850,000 men and women, at great risk to 
     their personal safety, presently serve their fellow citizens 
     as guardians of peace;
       Whereas peace officers are on the front line in preserving 
     the right of the children of the United States to receive an 
     education in a crime-free environment, a right that is all 
     too often threatened by the insidious fear caused by violence 
     in schools;
       Whereas 154 peace officers across the United States were 
     killed in the line of duty during 2004, which is below the 
     decade-long average of 169 deaths annually;
       Whereas a number of factors contributed to this reduction 
     in deaths, including better equipment and the increased use 
     of bullet-resistant vests, improved training, longer prison 
     terms for violent offenders, and advanced emergency medical 
     care;
       Whereas every other day, 1 out of every 9 peace officers is 
     assaulted, 1 out of every 25 peace officers is injured, and 1 
     out of every 6,000 peace officers is killed in the line of 
     duty somewhere in the United States; and
       Whereas on May 15, 2005, more than 20,000 peace officers 
     are expected to gather in Washington, D.C. to join with 
     families of their recently fallen comrades to honor those 
     comrades and all others who went before them: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes May 15, 2005, as Peace Officers Memorial 
     Day, in honor of Federal, State, and local officers killed or 
     disabled in the line of duty; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     this day with appropriate ceremonies and respect.

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