[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 70 (Thursday, May 19, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3201-S3202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the consideration of S. Res. 192 submitted earlier today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 192) designating May 21, 2011, as 
     ``National Kids to Parks Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise to talk about an issue 
that is close to my heart: introducing our children to National Parks 
across the country.

[[Page S3202]]

  Enjoying the outdoors has been a lifelong passion for me and it began 
in my youth. Growing up in the American Southwest, my parents would 
take our family on frequent trips to the nearby parks. This helped 
inspire my brother, Randy, and I to take a 10-day backpacking trip to 
Glacier National Park in Montana when we were in college. I know now 
these important visits to the parks were the building blocks of a life 
filled with enthusiasm for mountains and the outdoors.
  I have always enjoyed being outdoors with others, first as an 
instructor with Outward Bound and then with my wife and kids. In 
Congress, I have similarly tried to ensure that open spaces in both 
urban and rural areas are preserved so that families in Colorado and 
across America have ample opportunity to get out and take advantage of 
our greatest natural resources, our parks and open spaces.
  I believe today more than ever it is important that we are 
encouraging our Nation's youth to get outdoors. In America today, one 
in three children are overweight or obese. Kids between the ages of 8 
and 18 spend an average of 7\1/2\ hours a day using some sort of 
entertainment media such as TVs, computers, video games, cell phones 
and movies. I believe this is a major reason why only one-third of all 
children get the recommended level of physical activity every day, 
contributing to childhood obesity.
  In this spirit, on Saturday families all across the Nation will get 
outside and visit a city, State or national park in honor of the first 
annual National Kids to Parks Day. National Kids to Parks Day 
celebrates America's commitment to getting kids outdoors and highlights 
the importance of preserving open spaces for American's to recreate.
  That is why today I will be submitting a bipartisan resolution that 
recognizes Saturday, May 21, 2011, as the first annual National Kids to 
Parks Day. National Kids to Parks Day encourages more of our Nation's 
youth to get outdoors and enjoy the great system of city, State and 
national parks we have in this country.
  I thank Senator Burr, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Bingaman for 
their cosponsorship and support.
  Getting kids outdoors won't completely solve our childhood obesity 
problem, but it may help them get excited about being active and 
healthy outdoors, and it may help inspire the next generation of 
American stewards to enjoy and protect our Nation's special places.
  I plan to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day by attending the 100-
year anniversary of Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO. 
I encourage my colleagues to do something similar--highlight the 
national, State, and local parks in your State and encourage American 
families to get outdoors.
  I ask my colleagues to support my National Kids to Parks Day 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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 any 
statements relating to the matter be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 192) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 192

       Whereas the first National Kids to Parks Day will be 
     celebrated on May 21, 2011;
       Whereas the goal of National Kids to Parks Day is to 
     empower young people and encourage families to get outdoors 
     and visit the parks of the United States;
       Whereas on National Kids to Parks Day, rural and urban 
     Americans alike can be reintroduced to the splendid National, 
     State, and neighborhood parks that are located in their 
     communities;
       Whereas communities across the United States offer a 
     variety of natural resources and public land, often with free 
     access, to individuals seeking outdoor recreation;
       Whereas the United States should encourage young people to 
     lead a more active lifestyle, as too many young people in the 
     United States are overweight or obese;
       Whereas National Kids to Parks Day is an opportunity for 
     families to take a break from their busy lives and come 
     together for a day of wholesome fun; and
       Whereas National Kids to Parks Day aims to broaden the 
     appreciation of young people for nature and the outdoors: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 21, 2011, as ``National Kids to Parks 
     Day'';
       (2) recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation and the 
     preservation of open spaces to the health of the young people 
     of the United States; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to observe the 
     day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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