[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 141--RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 
 THE GOD'S CHILD PROJECT AND CONGRATULATING THE GOD'S CHILD PROJECT ON 
                          ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. Hoeven) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 141

       Whereas international educator, human rights leader, and 
     native of the State of North Dakota Patrick Atkinson, deeply 
     concerned about the plight of poor and exploited children 
     around the globe, established the nonprofit GOD'S CHILD 
     Project in 1991 with the mission of breaking the bitter 
     chains of poverty through education and information;
       Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project has a global presence, 
     serving the most vulnerable women and children on 3 
     continents, with operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, India, 
     Malawi, and the United States;
       Whereas the international GOD'S CHILD Project, true to its 
     roots, maintains its global headquarters in Bismarck, North 
     Dakota, the hometown of Patrick Atkinson;
       Whereas more than 5,000 orphaned, abandoned, and 
     impoverished children and nearly 8,700 widowed, abandoned, 
     and single mothers and their dependents receive care from, 
     and are educated by, the GOD'S CHILD Project;
       Whereas since the GOD'S CHILD Project was founded, more 
     than 18,000 parentless children and thousands more women have 
     been given hope by the GOD'S CHILD Project;
       Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project, taking a comprehensive 
     view of helping the destitute and exploited break free from 
     poverty and oppression, operates schools, a family clinic, 
     social work department, psychology clinic, domestic violence 
     program, legal aid department, and a center for malnourished 
     children;
       Whereas in response to the transnational problem of human 
     trafficking, the GOD'S CHILD Project established the 
     Institute for Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing Persons in 
     2001 to address the issues of human trafficking and 
     exploitation, which are particularly severe in Central 
     America;
       Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project is often 1 of the first 
     organizations to respond to devastating natural disasters, 
     including Tropical Storm Agatha, which ravaged Central 
     America in 2010, taking nearly 180 lives and destroying the 
     homes of thousands;
       Whereas each year, approximately 2,500 volunteers and 45 
     homebuilding groups from around the world join with the GOD'S 
     CHILD Project staff to compassionately serve their brothers 
     and sisters in need; and
       Whereas the GOD'S CHILD Project and Patrick Atkinson have 
     received numerous accolades recognizing their service to the 
     poor from United States and foreign organizations, including 
     the Guatemalan Congressional Medal of Honor, Guatemala's 
     Goodwill Ambassador For Peace, and the 2010 Humanitarian 
     Award from the Bismarck City Human Rights Commission: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the GOD'S CHILD Project on its 20th 
     anniversary;
       (2) commends the GOD'S CHILD Project for its charitable 
     service to the poor and its efforts to help thousands break 
     the bonds of poverty and exploitation; and
       (3) recognizes those individuals who have served 
     impoverished children and women throughout the world under 
     the auspices of the GOD'S CHILD Project, including the 
     volunteers, staff, and founder and executive director, 
     Patrick Atkinson, of the GOD'S CHILD Project.

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