[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2202-H2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DAY
Ms WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 62), supporting the goals and
ideals of a National Children and Families Day, in order to encourage
adults in the United States to support and listen to children and to
help children throughout the Nation achieve their hopes and dreams, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 62
Whereas research shows that spending time together as a
family is critical to raising strong and resilient kids;
Whereas strong healthy families improve the quality of life
and the development of children;
Whereas it is essential to celebrate and reflect upon the
important role that all families play in the lives of
children and their positive effect for the Nation's future;
Whereas the fourth Saturday of June is a day set aside to
recognize the importance of children and families; and
Whereas the country's greatest natural resource is its
children: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals of
a National Children and Families Day.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
{time} 1530
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the most sacred institution of our society
is that of the family. And within the family, its most precious asset,
and that is its children. I stand before you today asking that my
colleagues support me in
[[Page H2203]]
establishing a National Children and Families Day.
President Bush has stated that, ``Families instill in our children
values; they shape character and are the foundation of a hopeful
society.'' These are the goals for which we strive on National Children
and Families Day. It is the intent of the National Children and
Families Day to emphasize the importance of loving and stable
relationships between parents, communities and children.
I once heard a teacher ask her class, What is the greatest Nation in
the world? As the students muttered the names of countries worldwide,
she pointed to her head and said, Imagination.
Through National Children and Families Day, I wish to cultivate and
encourage the active imaginations of children, for we know that from
creative and innovative thinking comes the ability to hope and dream
for a brighter future.
Creating an environment that instills important values and builds
strong character and provides sound education for our children is a
vital national priority. With a firm foundation, children will be
better able to face the challenges of the future.
As a legislator, I often find myself thinking of the countless
children I represent whom I view as future voting constituents. And I
think of how the policies we enact today could hinder or empower them
10, 15 or 20 years from now.
This, Mr. Speaker, is why I urge my colleagues to support National
Children and Families Day.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, with so many distractions in our lives today, it is
important to take a step back to acknowledge the central role that
families play in the development of our Nation's youth. This resolution
celebrates those aspects found in a positive family atmosphere which
promotes healthy and well-adjusted young men and women.
It is true that the children are our future, and the strength of our
country has been and will continue to be built on families providing
educational, social, ethical and moral guidance to our children.
The devotion of time is one of the most important things we can do to
help maintain a positive family environment. And while it may be
difficult to find time in our hectic schedules, things as simple as
playing with educational toys, reading together or visiting an age-
appropriate museum will stimulate a child's curiosity that will be
beneficial throughout their lives.
Also, something as easy as slowing down enough to take the time to
listen to one another, maybe by having dinner as a family whenever
possible is a time tested way to nurture a child through family
participation during their formative years.
Young people are increasingly exposed to the stress and pressures of
our modern society. In order to combat these negative influences, we
must take it upon ourselves, as a society, to expose young people to
loving and supporting families whenever possible. As an example, doing
a community service project as a family is one of the many ways to
teach children that to build a community and to thrive as a society, we
should all share in assisting one another.
National Children and Families Day provides us an opportunity to
recognize our responsibility to create family environments that nurture
the next generation and to promote a positive environment for families
across America.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 62.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.
Con. Res. 62, which supports the goals and ideals of National Children
and Families Day. The purpose of H. Con. Res. 62 is to encourage adults
to listen to children and to help children throughout the Nation
achieve their hopes and dreams, and for other purposes.
As Chair of the Children's Caucus, I strongly believe that we must
continue creating positive and effective support systems for our
children so that they will become healthy, productive citizens. To do
this, we must ensure that all of our children have access to quality
education and healthcare. We must also give quality time to our
children.
Mr. Speaker, National Children and Families Day encourages parents to
spend time with their children and to spend time together around the
dinner table.
Our young children are increasingly facing monumental challenges such
as drug and alcohol addiction, pregnancy, depression, and obesity. We
must invest the time and money in the necessary resources needed to
help our children combat these challenges. I recently hosted a
briefing, ``Childhood Obesity: Factors that are Impacting the
Disproportionate Prevalence in Low-Income and Minority Communities,''
to discuss the causes of, and search for solutions to the childhood
obesity epidemic. Eating dinner at the dinner table with parents is one
of the suggested ways children may develop healthier eating habits.
According to research by The National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, the more often children
eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke,
drink or use drugs. The research suggested that the conversations that
go hand-in-hand with dinner will help parents learn more about their
children's lives and better understand the challenges they face.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 62
to support the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families
Day.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 62.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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