[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H60-H61]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORTING THE INITIATIVES OF CHICAGO WILDERNESS

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 860) supporting the initiatives of Chicago 
Wilderness and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 860

       Whereas in 2007, the Chicago Wilderness, an alliance of 
     over 240 organizations contributing to the quality of life in 
     Chicago, launched the ``Leave No Child Inside'' initiative 
     with the goal to get more children outside and to increase 
     the amount and quality of time they spend there;
       Whereas unstructured, outdoor play is important for the 
     wholesome, balanced development of the cognitive, emotional, 
     social, and physical skills of children;
       Whereas research has demonstrated that outdoor play helps 
     children manage stress;
       Whereas it is shown that natural spaces stimulate 
     children's limitless imagination and foster creativity;
       Whereas children who connect with nature become more 
     inventive and better problem-solvers due to the hands-on 
     learning that outdoor environments provide;
       Whereas participation in summer camp has been shown to 
     increase the self-esteem scores of children from low-income 
     areas;
       Whereas hiking and walking activities have been shown to 
     lower high blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and combat 
     obesity;
       Whereas being active in outdoor activities, such as 
     fishing, is correlated with reduced Attention-Deficit 
     Disorder symptoms;
       Whereas the presence of natural amenities near the homes of 
     low-income urban children is associated with higher levels of 
     cognitive functioning;
       Whereas children who grow up spending time in nature are 
     also more likely to be strong advocates for the environment 
     when they reach adulthood;
       Whereas the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights joint 
     resolution passed the State of Illinois; and
       Whereas the Illinois General Assembly proclaimed June as 
     ``No Child Left Inside Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and encourages the Children's Outdoor Bill 
     of Rights commitment to ``Leave No Child Inside'' and fight 
     obesity, physical disorders, and unawareness of natural 
     amenities by promoting quality outdoor activities for 
     children and adults; and
       (2) encourages the President to issue a proclamation in 
     support of the goals and ideals of the Children's Outdoor 
     Bill of Rights

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. McCollum). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
insert extraneous material on H. Res. 860 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KILDEE. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 860, 
supporting the initiatives of Chicago Wilderness and the Children's 
Outdoor Bill of Rights.
  With more and more children growing up in a world where the Internet, 
cell phones and video games are at their fingertips, the need for 
children to play and to explore outside has become even more important. 
Research has shown that unstructured outdoor play is a key element in 
the wholesome, balanced development of the cognitive, emotional, 
social, and physical skills of children.
  The Chicago Wilderness, a coalition of over 240 organizations, is 
committed to adding biodiversity to the Chicago metropolitan area and 
to creating a better quality of life in the community. Based on the 
idea that people's lives are improved by a strong connection with 
nature, the coalition sets out to increase and to diversify public 
participation in environmental stewardship.
  The Chicago Wilderness especially recognizes the value of connecting 
children to nature. In fact, in 2007, they launched the Leave No Child 
Inside initiative and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights with the 
goal of increasing awareness and of encouraging more children to 
explore their outdoor environments.
  Getting more children outside enjoying nature, encouraging their 
curiosity and developing their creativity is essential. Playing 
outdoors not only helps children learn in new ways to improve 
academically; it also helps them thrive both socially and emotionally. 
Studies have shown that outdoor play helps children manage obstacles 
such as stress, as well as helping them become more inventive and 
better problem-solvers. Many health risks are also lowered when outdoor 
activities become a part of a child's daily life, and children who 
connect with nature have even shown to improve their inner-personal 
relationships and behavior. In some cases, outdoor activity, something 
as simple as fishing, has been correlated with reducing the symptoms of 
attention deficit disorder.
  This resolution encourages us all to recognize and to support the 
Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights--a commitment to fight obesity, 
physical disorders--and an awareness of natural amenities by promoting 
quality outdoor activities for both children and adults. This

[[Page H61]]

is a truly worthy commitment. Simple and fun outdoor activities can 
have a great impact on our Nation's children and families.
  Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support of H. Res. 860. I 
thank Representative Quigley for bringing this bill forward, and I urge 
my colleagues to support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 860, 
supporting the initiatives of Chicago Wilderness and the Children's 
Outdoor Bill of Rights.
  I want to commend the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from 
Chicago (Mr. Quigley), for his leadership on this issue.
  Most of us here today can remember ample time during our childhoods 
which was spent outdoors. In fact, to this very day, the child in me 
still enjoys hikes in the woods and tent-camping. In fact, for my wife, 
Leslie, and our two boys, T.J. and Tom, some of our most wonderful 
vacations have been tent-camping in our national parks throughout our 
great Nation.
  Unfortunately, however, many children today do not have these same 
opportunities. Due to a lack of safe outdoor play areas, an abundance 
of video games and television time and, unfortunately, little 
encouragement to play outdoors, many children today do not experience 
the benefits of outdoor activities.
  Research indicates that being active outdoors benefits children in 
countless ways. Active outdoor play has been shown to help children 
manage stress, to lower their blood pressure, and to help children 
develop cognitive skills.
  The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights encourages children to 
participate in outdoor activities and to explore opportunities--to 
discover the wilderness, to learn to swim, to follow a trail, and to 
explore other outdoor resources. The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights 
highlights the importance of outdoor activities to the development and 
nourishment of children.
  Our Nation boasts some of the world's most beautiful parks and 
natural monuments, an array of wildlife not found elsewhere, and 
abundant natural resources. Certainly, children should be encouraged to 
take advantage of these unique opportunities and resources.
  For most of us, outdoor play was a regular part of growing up. 
Unfortunately, again, this is not true today. By supporting the 
Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, we highlight the importance of 
children participating in outdoor activities. In doing so, we will 
bless not just our Nation's children but our Nation as a whole. Again, 
I am honored to support this resolution, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).
  Mr. QUIGLEY. I appreciate the remarks from the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania, and it bears truth that Philly fans and Cub fans can 
unite on common goals.
  Madam Speaker, earlier this year, the House passed the No Child Left 
Inside Act, a bill and an initiative I support wholeheartedly. This 
past summer, following our congressional footsteps, the Illinois 
General Assembly proclaimed June ``No Child Left Inside Month.''
  The Chicago Wilderness, a network of over 240 organizations 
statewide, makes giant strides to promote this initiative. The 
organization works to get more children outside, and it increases the 
amount and quality of the time they spend there. Children who grow up 
with an understanding of the land, air and water surrounding them grow 
into environmentally conscious adults, and it makes them more 
physically fit.
  These individuals are people who are actively involved in efforts to 
clean, restore, and preserve our precious resources. The Chicago 
Wilderness knows this, and it works hard to better the lives and 
communities of everyone in the Chicago-land area. The Chicago 
Wilderness should be commended and recognized for their efforts to 
promote environmental literacy and healthy living.
  I urge you to join me in support of this resolution on the House 
floor today. As it is my first resolution, I wish to thank my staff for 
their efforts.
  Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I would just reference 
that on a family visit to Chicago this past summer, we think of Chicago 
as an urban center and city, and what a wonderful city it is, but my 
boys also had the chance to fish in the Chicago River as part of a City 
of Chicago fishing program, encouraging just what we're talking about 
in this resolution, getting kids outdoors and enjoying the activities 
of the outdoors. The fish they caught in the Chicago River may not have 
been big, but they still caught some; and they remember that visit very 
well.
  Again, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Quigley) for sponsoring this resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I wish to take a moment to 
voice my strong support for a bill offered by the gentleman from 
Illinois and my delegation colleague, Mr. Quigley. H. Res. 860, 
supports two key environmental initiatives within Illinois: the Chicago 
Wilderness and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.
  Chicago Wilderness is alliance of public and private organizations 
dedicated to promoting conservation and strengthening the natural 
ecosystems of the Chicago region. With over 240 members, the alliance 
includes government agencies, conservation organizations, scientific 
organizations, cultural institutions, schools, universities, and 
business partners. A few such members with whom I have worked closely 
over the years include: Blacks in Chicago; the Chicago Park District; 
the Chicago Botanic Gardens; the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency; 
the Chicago Zoological Society; the Metropolitan Water Reclamation 
District; and the Village of Oak Park.
  Chicago Wilderness has four long-term efforts: The Green 
Infrastructure Vision initiative promotes the creation and maintenance 
of green, open spaces; the Leave No Child Inside initiative promotes 
environmental education and experiences for children and youth; the 
Restoring the Health of Local Nature initiative engages in active 
restoration and land management to improve the health of natural areas 
as well as their plants and animals; and the Climate Change initiative 
involves examining, making recommendations, and taking action to limit 
the Chicago area's impact on global climate change.
  The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights is a joint resolution passed by 
the Illinois General Assembly to establish goals for children to 
experience nature. The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights states that 
every child should have opportunities to ``. . . discover wilderness--
prairies, dunes, forests, savannas, and wetlands; camp under the stars; 
follow a trail; catch and release fish, frogs, and insects; climb a 
tree; explore nature in neighborhoods and cities; celebrate heritage; 
plant a flower; play in the mud or a stream; and learn to swim.''
  Understanding and interacting with nature are positive ways for 
children and youth to develop their minds and bodies. Outdoor play 
encourages independent learning and creativity and develops public 
awareness about the critical, interdependent relationship humans have 
with nature. As a child, I remember fondly the time I spent outside 
with my siblings, exploring my rural community, studying animals, and 
learning about nature. These experiences contributed to my appreciation 
of and commitment to improving the environment.
  I join Mr. Quigley in recognizing the importance of and supporting 
these two Illinois environmental initiatives--the Chicago Wilderness 
and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.
  Mr. PLATTS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 860, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________