[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7773-S7774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following 
resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 667, S. Res. 
668, S. Res. 669, S. Res. 670, S. Res. 671, and S. Res. 672.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. DURBIN. 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, with no intervening 
action or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolutions 
be printed in the Record.
  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. 667

      Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Coastal Organization

       Whereas, in 2010, the Coastal States Organization (referred 
     to in this preamble as the ``CSO'') is celebrating its 40th 
     anniversary of representing the Governors of the 35 coastal 
     States, commonwealths, and territories of the United States 
     on issues relating to the sound management of coastal, ocean, 
     and Great Lakes resources;
       Whereas the CSO was created in 1969 by a resolution, which 
     was endorsed unanimously, of the National Governors 
     Association;
       Whereas, in January 1970, the first meeting of the CSO was 
     held in Savannah, Georgia;
       Whereas, in October 2010, the CSO will celebrate its 40th 
     anniversary in Monterey, California;
       Whereas the CSO has been empowered to contribute to the 
     development and operation of the national coastal zone 
     management program, which was established by the Coastal Zone 
     Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.);
       Whereas the CSO is a nonpartisan organization comprised of 
     economically, environmentally, geographically, and socially 
     diverse States, territories, and commonwealths;
       Whereas the CSO serves as a means for the Governors of the 
     member States, territories, and commonwealths to communicate 
     with Congress and the executive branch on coastal, ocean, and 
     Great Lakes policies, programs, and affairs; and
       Whereas the member States, territories, and commonwealths 
     of the CSO have a responsibility to work with the Federal 
     Government to manage and conserve the public trust in coastal 
     and ocean ecosystems as well as the quality of life in 
     coastal communities for the benefit of current and future 
     generations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Coastal States 
     Organization; and
       (2) supports the role of States, territories, and 
     commonwealths in the stewardship of coastal, ocean, and Great 
     Lakes resources.

                              S. Res. 668

  Expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2010, as the 
                      ``National Day on Writing''

       Whereas people in the 21st century are writing 
     more than ever before for personal, professional, and civic 
     purposes;
       Whereas the social nature of writing invites people of 
     every age, profession, and walk of life to create meaning 
     through composing;
       Whereas more and more people in every occupation deem 
     writing as essential and influential in their work;
       Whereas writers continue to learn how to write for 
     different purposes, audiences, and occasions throughout their 
     lifetimes;
       Whereas developing digital technologies expand the 
     possibilities for composing in multiple media at a faster 
     pace than ever before;
       Whereas young people are leading the way in developing new 
     forms of composing by using different forms of digital media;
       Whereas effective communication contributes to building a 
     global economy and a global community;
       Whereas the National Council of Teachers of English, in 
     conjunction with its many national and local partners, honors 
     and celebrates the importance of writing through the National 
     Day on Writing;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing celebrates the 
     foundational place of writing in the personal, professional, 
     and civic lives of the people of the United States;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing provides an opportunity 
     for individuals across the United States to share and exhibit 
     their written works through the National Gallery of Writing;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing highlights the 
     importance of writing instruction and practice at every 
     educational level and in every subject area;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing emphasizes the lifelong 
     process of learning to write and compose for different 
     audiences, purposes, and occasions;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing honors the use of the 
     full range of media for composing, from traditional tools 
     like print, audio, and video, to Web 2.0 tools like blogs, 
     wikis, and podcasts; and
       Whereas the National Day on Writing encourages all people 
     of the United States to write, as well as to enjoy and learn 
     from the writing of others: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of October 20, 2010, as the 
     ``National Day on Writing'';
       (2) strongly affirms the purposes of the National Day on 
     Writing;
       (3) encourages participation in the National Galley of 
     Writing, which serves as an exemplary living archive of the 
     centrality of writing in the lives of the people of the 
     United States; and
       (4) encourages educational institutions, businesses, 
     community and civic associations, and other organizations to 
     promote awareness of the National Day on Writing and 
     celebrate the writing of the members those organizations 
     through individual submissions to the National Gallery of 
     Writing.

                              S. Res. 669

      Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2010

       Whereas, the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 
     continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when the 
     first ``Luzones Indios'' set foot in Morro Bay, California, 
     on board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de 
     Esperanza;
       Whereas, the Filipino American National Historical Society 
     recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first 
     permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. 
     Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus on the story 
     of our Nation's past from a new perspective by concentrating 
     on the economic, cultural, social, and other notable 
     contributions that Filipino Americans have made in countless 
     ways toward the development of the history of the United 
     States;
       Whereas, the Filipino-American community is the second 
     largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a 
     population of approximately 3,100,000 people;
       Whereas, Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have 
     a longstanding history serving in the Armed Services, from 
     the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, 
     including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought under the United 
     States flag during World War II to protect and defend this 
     country;
       Whereas, 9 Filipino Americans have received the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in 
     action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an

[[Page S7774]]

     individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas, Filipino Americans are an integral part of the 
     United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and 
     other medical professionals;
       Whereas, Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the 
     fine arts, music, dance, literature, education, business, 
     literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, 
     government, science, technology, and other fields in the 
     United States that enrich the landscape of the country;
       Whereas, efforts should continue to promote the study of 
     Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the 
     mission statement of the Filipino American National 
     Historical Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans 
     and other people of color have been overlooked in the 
     writing, teaching, and learning of United States history;
       Whereas, it is imperative for Filipino-American youth to 
     have positive role models to instill in them the importance 
     of education, complemented with the richness of their 
     ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and
       Whereas, Filipino American History Month is celebrated 
     during the month of October 2010: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History 
     Month 2010 as a study of the advancement of Filipino 
     Americans, as a time of reflection and remembrance, and as a 
     time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of 
     history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for 
     all people in the United States to learn and appreciate more 
     about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to 
     the Nation; and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     Filipino American History Month 2010 with appropriate 
     programs and activities.

                              S. Res. 670

    Designating the week beginning on Monday, November 8, 2010, as 
               ``National Veterans History Project Week''

       Whereas 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Veterans History Project by Congress in 
     order to collect and preserve the wartime stories of veterans 
     of the Armed Forces of the United States;
       Whereas Congress charged the American Folklife Center at 
     the Library of Congress to undertake the Veterans History 
     Project and to engage the public in the creation of a 
     collection of oral histories that would be a lasting tribute 
     to individual veterans;
       Whereas the Veterans History Project relies on a corps of 
     volunteer interviewers, partner organizations, and an array 
     of civic minded institutions nationwide who interview 
     veterans according to the guidelines outlined by the project;
       Whereas these oral histories have created an abundant 
     resource for scholars to gather first-hand accounts of 
     veterans' experience in World War I, World War II, the Korean 
     War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the 
     Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts;
       Whereas there are 17,000,000 wartime veterans in the United 
     States whose stories can educate people of all ages about 
     important moments and events in the history of the United 
     States and the world and provide instructive narratives that 
     illuminate the meanings of ``service'', ``sacrifice'', 
     ``citizenship'', and ``democracy'';
       Whereas more than 70,000 oral histories have already been 
     collected and more than 8,000 oral histories are fully 
     digitized and available through the website of the Library of 
     Congress;
       Whereas the Veterans History Project will increase the 
     number of oral histories that can be collected and preserved 
     and increase the number of veterans it honors; and
       Whereas ``National Veterans Awareness Week'' has been 
     recognized by Congress in previous years: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning on Monday, November 8, 
     2010, as ``National Veterans History Project Week'';
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to interview 
     at least 1 veteran in their families or communities according 
     to guidelines provided by the Veterans History Project; and
       (3) encourages national, State, and local organizations 
     along with Federal, State, city, and county governmental 
     institutions to participate in support of the effort to 
     document, preserve, and honor the service of veterans of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States.

                              S. Res. 671

        Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2010

       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established to 
     commemorate the service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, a 
     special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration for 11 
     years who was murdered in the line of duty in 1985 while 
     engaged in the battle against illicit drugs;
       Whereas 2010 marks 25 years since the death of Special 
     Agent Camarena;
       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established by the 
     National Family Partnership to preserve the memory of Special 
     Agent Camarena and further the cause for which he gave his 
     life;
       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally 
     recognized since 1988 and is now the oldest and largest drug 
     prevention program in the United States, reaching millions of 
     young people each year during Red Ribbon Week;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, established in 
     1973, aggressively targets organizations involved in the 
     growing, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled 
     substances and has been a steadfast partner in commemorating 
     Red Ribbon Week;
       Whereas the Governors and attorneys general of the States, 
     the National Family Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations, 
     Boys and Girls Clubs of America, PRIDE Youth Programs, the 
     Drug Enforcement Administration, and more than 100 other 
     organizations throughout the United States annually celebrate 
     Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 through 
     October 31;
       Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the 
     creation of drug-free communities through drug prevention 
     efforts, education, parental involvement, and community-wide 
     support;
       Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges that the 
     Nation faces in securing a safe and healthy future for 
     families in the United States;
       Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to domestic 
     violence and sexual assault and place the lives of children 
     at risk;
       Whereas, between 1997 and 2007, the percentages of 
     admissions to substance abuse treatment programs as a result 
     of the abuse of marijuana and methamphetamines rose 
     significantly;
       Whereas drug dealers specifically target children by 
     marketing illicit drugs that mimic the appearance and names 
     of well-known brand-name candies and foods; and
       Whereas parents, youth, schools, businesses, law 
     enforcement agencies, religious institutions, service 
     organizations, senior citizens, medical and military 
     personnel, sports teams, and individuals throughout the 
     United States will demonstrate their commitment to healthy, 
     productive, and drug-free lifestyles by wearing and 
     displaying red ribbons during the week-long celebration of 
     Red Ribbon Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2010;
       (2) encourages children and teens to choose to live drug-
     free lives; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to--
       (A) promote the creation of drug-free communities; and
       (B) participate in drug prevention activities to show 
     support for healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles.

                              S. Res. 672

   Designating October 9, 2010, as ``National Chess Day'' to enhance 
 awareness and encourage students and adults to engage in a game known 
        to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills

       Whereas it is estimated that chess is played by 39,000,000 
     people in the United States;
       Whereas there are over 75,000 members of the United States 
     Chess Federation (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Federation''), and unknown numbers of additional people in 
     the United States who play the game without joining an 
     official organization;
       Whereas approximately half of the members of the Federation 
     are scholastic members, and many of the scholastic members 
     join by the age of 10;
       Whereas the Federation is very supportive of the scholastic 
     programs and sponsors a Certified Chess Coach program that 
     provides the coaches involved in the scholastic programs 
     training and ensures schools and students can have confidence 
     the program;
       Whereas many studies have linked chess programs to the 
     improvement of student scores in reading and math, as well as 
     improved self-esteem, and the Federation offers a school 
     curriculum to educators to help incorporate chess into the 
     school curriculum;
       Whereas chess is a powerful cognitive learning tool that 
     can be used to successfully enhance reading and math 
     concepts; and
       Whereas chess engages students of all learning styles and 
     strengths and promotes problem-solving and higher-level 
     thinking skills: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 9, 2010, as ``National Chess Day''; 
     and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Chess Day'' with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

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