[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 118 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS AWARENESS DAY

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          RECOGNIZING 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF INDIA'S INDEPENDENCE

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     COMMEMORATING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLICATION OF ``TO KILL A 
                             MOCKINGBIRD''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed en bloc to the consideration of the following Senate 
resolutions: S. 612, S. 613, and S. 614.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions 
be agreed to, the preambles 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. 612

       Whereas the term ``fetal alcohol spectrum disorders'' 
     includes a broader range of conditions than the term ``fetal 
     alcohol syndrome'' and therefore has replaced the term 
     ``fetal alcohol syndrome'' as the umbrella term describing 
     the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose 
     mother drank alcohol during pregnancy;
       Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the leading 
     cause of cognitive disability in western civilization, 
     including the United States, and are 100 percent preventable;
       Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a major cause 
     of numerous social disorders, including learning 
     disabilities, school failure, juvenile delinquency, 
     homelessness, unemployment, mental illness, and crime;
       Whereas the incidence rate of fetal alcohol syndrome is 
     estimated at 1 out of 500 live births and the incidence rate 
     of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is estimated at 1 out of 
     every 100 live births;
       Whereas although the economic costs of fetal alcohol 
     spectrum disorders are difficult to estimate, the cost of 
     fetal alcohol syndrome alone in the United States was 
     $6,000,000,000 in 2007, and it is estimated that each 
     individual with fetal alcohol syndrome will cost taxpayers of 
     the United States between $860,000 and $4,000,000 during the 
     lifetime of each such individual;
       Whereas in February 1999, a small group of parents of 
     children who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 
     came together with the hope that in 1 magic moment the world 
     could be made aware of the devastating consequences of 
     alcohol consumption during pregnancy;
       Whereas the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 
     Awareness Day was observed on September 9, 1999;
       Whereas Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, the co-founder of 
     the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, 
     asked ``What if . . . a world full of FAS/E [Fetal Alcohol 
     Syndrome/Effect] parents all got together on the ninth hour 
     of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year and asked the 
     world to remember that during the 9 months of pregnancy a 
     woman should not consume alcohol . . . would the rest of the 
     world listen?''; and
       Whereas on the ninth day of the ninth month of each year 
     since 1999, communities around the world have observed 
     International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 9, 2010, as ``National Fetal 
     Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day''; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States--
       (A) to observe National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 
     Awareness Day with appropriate ceremonies--
       (i) to promote awareness of the effects of prenatal 
     exposure to alcohol;
       (ii) to increase compassion for individuals affected by 
     prenatal exposure to alcohol;
       (iii) to minimize further effects of prenatal exposure to 
     alcohol; and
       (iv) to ensure healthier communities across the United 
     States; and
       (B) to observe a moment of reflection on the ninth hour of 
     September 9, 2010, to remember that during the 9 months of 
     pregnancy a woman should not consume alcohol.

                              S. Res. 613

       Whereas on August 15, 1947, India gained independence from 
     Great Britain and became a sovereign nation;
       Whereas August 15 is celebrated in India as Independence 
     Day;
       Whereas India is the largest democracy in the world;
       Whereas India has one of the largest and most dynamic 
     economies in the world;
       Whereas, in recent years, the United States and India have 
     pursued a strategic partnership based on common interests and 
     shared commitments to freedom, democracy, pluralism, human 
     rights, and the rule of law;
       Whereas President Barack Obama referred to the relationship 
     between the United States and India as ``one of the defining 
     partnerships of the 21st century'' at the first State dinner 
     hosted by President Obama, which was held in honor of Indian 
     Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009;
       Whereas the United States and India completed the inaugural 
     round of the United States-India Strategic Dialogue in June 
     2010;
       Whereas the United States and India have undertaken a 
     cooperative effort in the area of civilian nuclear power, 
     which Congress approved through the enactment of the United 
     States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and 
     Nonproliferation Enhancement Act (Public Law 110-369; 122 
     Stat. 4028);
       Whereas the strong relationship between the United States 
     and India, based on mutual trust and respect, enables close 
     collaboration across a broad spectrum of strategic interests, 
     including counterterrorism, democracy promotion, regional 
     economic development, human rights, and scientific research;
       Whereas the United States and India have balanced, growing, 
     and mutually beneficial trade and investment ties that create 
     jobs in both countries;
       Whereas, since 2001, Indians have comprised the largest 
     foreign student population on college campuses in the United 
     States, accounting for approximately 15 percent of all 
     foreign students in the United States;
       Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 Americans of Indian 
     descent in the United States;
       Whereas Americans of Indian descent have made lasting 
     contributions to the social and economic fabric of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas Americans of Indian descent continue to enrich all 
     sectors of public life in the United States, including as 
     government, military, and law enforcement officials working 
     to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to 
     protect all people in the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 63rd anniversary of India's 
     independence;
       (2) celebrates the contributions of Americans of Indian 
     descent to society in the United States; and
       (3) remains committed to fostering and advancing the 
     strategic partnership between the United States and India in 
     the future.

                              S. Res. 614

       Whereas Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, to 
     Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch in Monroeville, Alabama;
       Whereas Nelle Harper Lee wrote the novel ``To Kill a 
     Mockingbird'' portraying life in the 1930s in the fictional 
     small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, which was modeled on 
     Monroeville, Alabama, the hometown of Ms. Lee;
       Whereas ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' addressed the issue of 
     racial inequality in the United States by revealing the 
     humanity of a community grappling with moral conflict;
       Whereas ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' was first published in 
     1960 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961;
       Whereas ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' was the basis for the 
     1962 Academy Award-winning film of the same name starring 
     Gregory Peck;
       Whereas ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' is one of the great 
     American novels of the 20th century, having been published in 
     more than 40 languages and having sold more than 30,000,000 
     copies;
       Whereas, in 2007, Nelle Harper Lee was inducted into the 
     American Academy of Arts and Letters;
       Whereas, in 2007, President George W. Bush awarded the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom to Nelle Harper Lee for her 
     great contributions to literature and observed, `` `To Kill a 
     Mockingbird' has influenced the character of our country for 
     the better'', and ``As a model of good writing and humane 
     sensibility, this book will be read and studied forever''; 
     and
       Whereas ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' is celebrated each year 
     in Monroeville, Alabama through public performances featuring 
     local amateur actors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historic milestone of the 50th 
     anniversary of the publication of ``To Kill a Mockingbird''; 
     and
       (2) honors the outstanding achievement of Nelle Harper Lee 
     in the field of American literature in authoring ``To Kill a 
     Mockingbird''.

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