[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9606-S9607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORTING ``LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!''

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 104.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 104) supporting 
     ``Lights On Afterschool!,'' a national celebration of after 
     school programs.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today Senator Ensign and I have introduced a 
resolution designating October 16, 2008, Lights On Afterschool Day. 
Lights on Afterschool brings students, parents, educators, lawmakers, 
and community and business leaders together to celebrate afterschool 
programs. This year, more than 1 million Americans are expected to 
attend about 7,500 events designed to raise awareness and support for 
these much needed programs.
  In America today, 1 in 4 youth, more than 14 million children, go 
home alone after the school day ends. This includes more than 40,000 
kindergartners and almost 4 million middle school students in grades 
six to eight. On the other hand, only 6.5 million children, or 
approximately 11 percent of school-aged children, participate in 
afterschool programs. An additional 15 million would participate if a 
quality program were available in their community.
  Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool 
programs, is celebrated every October in communities nationwide to call 
attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's 
children, families, and communities. Lights On Afterschool was launched 
in October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities 
nationwide. The event has grown from 1,200 celebrations in 2001 to more 
than 7,500 today. This October, 1 million Americans will celebrate 
Lights On Afterschool!
  Quality afterschool programs should be available to children in all 
communities. These programs support working families and prevent kids 
from being both victims and perpetrators of violent crime. They also 
help parents in balancing work and home life. Quality afterschool 
programs help to engage students in their communities, and when 
students are engaged, they are more successful in their educational 
endeavors.
  In our work on the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Ensign and I 
have been working for more than 4 years to impress upon our colleagues 
the importance of afterschool programming. It is our hope that they 
will join us on October 16 to celebrate the importance of afterschool 
programs in their communities back home.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 104) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 104

       Whereas high quality after school programs provide safe, 
     challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences to help 
     children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, 
     cultural, and academic skills;
       Whereas high quality after school programs support working 
     families by ensuring that the children in such families are 
     safe and productive after the regular school day ends;
       Whereas high quality after school programs build stronger 
     communities by involving the Nation's students, parents, 
     business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of the 
     Nation's youth, thereby promoting positive relationships 
     among children, youth, families, and adults;
       Whereas high quality after school programs engage families, 
     schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the 
     well-being of the Nation's children;
       Whereas ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration 
     of after school programs held on October 16, 2008, promotes 
     the critical importance of high quality after school programs 
     in the lives of children, their families, and their 
     communities;

[[Page S9607]]

       Whereas more than 28,000,000 children in the United States 
     have parents who work outside the home and 14,300,000 
     children in the United States have no place to go after 
     school; and
       Whereas many after school programs across the United States 
     are struggling to keep their doors open and their lights on: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals of 
     ``Lights On Afterschool!'' a national celebration of after 
     school programs.

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