[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 69 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 177--DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2007, AS ``DIA DE LOS 
      NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS'', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
Menendez, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                              S. Res. 177

       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 it is projected that by the year 2050, 1 in 4 
     Americans will be of Hispanic descent, and currently 
     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, 138,000 of whom are Hispanic, and these 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, 2007, 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, 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) 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.

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce an important 
resolution designating the 30th day of April 2007 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 countries' 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 us affirm the significance of family, education, and community. 
This special recognition of children will provide us with an 
opportunity to reflect on their futures, 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. In the past years in my state of 
Utah, there have been a number of events and special programs for Dia 
de los Ninos in schools, libraries, cultural centers, and even 
hospitals.
  Joining me as original cosponsors to this Resolution are Mel 
Martinez, Jeff Bingaman, Ken Salazar, Robert Menendez, and Barbara 
Boxer.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this resolution.

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