[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5934-S5936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. 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. 276, 
S. Res. 277, S. Res. 278, S. Res. 279, S. Res. 280, and S. Res. 281, 
which were submitted earlier today.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions 
be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid on the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and 
any statements 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. 276

    Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Infant 
                     Mortality Awareness Month 2011

       Whereas ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby 
     before his or her first birthday;
       Whereas the United States ranks 41st among industrialized 
     countries in the rate of infant mortality;
       Whereas high rates of infant mortality are especially 
     prevalent in communities with large minority populations, 
     high rates of unemployment and poverty, and limited access to 
     safe housing and medical providers;
       Whereas premature birth is a leading cause of infant 
     mortality;
       Whereas according to the Institute of Medicine of the 
     National Academies, premature birth costs the United States 
     more than $26,000,000,000 annually;
       Whereas infant mortality can be substantially reduced 
     through community-based services such as outreach, home 
     visitation, case management, health education, and 
     interconceptional care;
       Whereas support for community-based programs to reduce 
     infant mortality can result in lower future spending on 
     medical interventions, special education, and other social 
     services that may be needed for infants and children who are 
     born with a low birth weight;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     through the Office of Minority Health, has implemented the 
     ``A Healthy Baby Begins With You'' campaign;
       Whereas the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration has provided national 
     leadership on the issue of infant mortality;
       Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant 
     mortality are held during the month of September each year; 
     and
       Whereas September 2011 has been designated as ``National 
     Infant Mortality Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Infant 
     Mortality Awareness Month 2011;
       (2) supports efforts to educate people in the United States 
     about infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
     infant mortality;
       (3) supports efforts to reduce infant deaths, low birth 
     weight, pre-term births, and disparities in perinatal 
     outcomes;
       (4) recognizes the critical importance of including efforts 
     to reduce infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
     infant mortality as part of prevention and wellness 
     strategies; and
       (5) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     National Infant Mortality Awareness Month with appropriate 
     programs and activities.

                              S. Res. 277

 Recognizing the month of October 2011 as ``National Principals Month''

       Whereas the National Association of Secondary School 
     Principals and the National Association of Elementary School 
     Principals have declared the month of October 2011 as 
     ``National Principals Month'';
       Whereas principals are educational visionaries, 
     instructional and assessment leaders, disciplinarians, 
     community builders, budget analysts, facilities managers, and 
     administrators of legal and contractual obligations;
       Whereas principals work collaboratively with teachers and 
     parents to develop and implement a clear mission, high 
     curriculum standards, and performance goals;
       Whereas principals create school environments that 
     facilitate great teaching and learning and continuous school 
     improvement;
       Whereas the vision, actions, and dedication of principals 
     provide the mobilizing force behind any school reform effort; 
     and
       Whereas the celebration of ``National Principals Month'' 
     would honor elementary school, middle school, and high school 
     principals, and recognize the importance of principals in 
     ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality 
     education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the month of October 2011 as ``National 
     Principals Month''; and
       (2) honors the contribution of principals in the elementary 
     schools, middle schools, and high schools of our Nation by 
     supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Principals 
     Month''.

                              S. Res. 278

  Designating September 2011 as ``National Prostate Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''

       Whereas countless families in the United States live with 
     prostate cancer;
       Whereas 1 in 6 males in the United States will be diagnosed 
     with prostate cancer in his lifetime;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-
     skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-
     related deaths among males in the United States;
       Whereas in 2011, the American Cancer Society estimates that 
     240,890 males in the United States will be diagnosed with 
     prostate cancer, and 33,720 males will die from the disease;
       Whereas 30 percent of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases 
     occur in males under the age of 65;
       Whereas approximately every 14 seconds, a male in the 
     United States turns 50 years old and increases his odds of 
     developing cancer, including prostate cancer;
       Whereas African-American males suffer from a prostate 
     cancer incidence rate that is up to 65 percent higher than 
     White males and have double the prostate cancer mortality 
     rate of White males;
       Whereas obesity is a significant predictor of the severity 
     of prostate cancer;
       Whereas the probability that obesity will lead to death and 
     high cholesterol levels is strongly associated with advanced 
     prostate cancer;
       Whereas males in the United States with 1 family member 
     diagnosed with prostate cancer have a 1 in 3 chance of being 
     diagnosed with the disease, males with 2 family members 
     diagnosed have an 83 percent chance, and males with 3 family 
     members diagnosed have a 97 percent chance;
       Whereas screening by a digital rectal examination and a 
     prostate-specific antigen blood test can detect the disease 
     at the early stages, increasing the chances of survival for 
     more than 5 years to nearly 100 percent;
       Whereas only 33 percent of males survive more than 5 years 
     if diagnosed during the late stages of the disease;
       Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer 
     while it is still in the early stages, making screening 
     critical;

[[Page S5935]]

       Whereas ongoing research promises further improvements in 
     prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment; 
     and
       Whereas educating people in the United States, including 
     health care providers, about prostate cancer and early 
     detection strategies is crucial to saving the lives of males 
     and preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2011 as ``National Prostate Cancer 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that steps should be taken--
       (A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening 
     methods for, and treatment of, prostate cancer;
       (B) to increase research funding that is commensurate with 
     the burden of prostate cancer so that--
       (i) screening and treatment for prostate cancer may be 
     improved;
       (ii) the causes of prostate cancer may be discovered; and
       (iii) a cure for prostate cancer may be developed; and
       (C) to continue to consider ways for improving access to, 
     and the quality of, health care services for detecting and 
     treating prostate cancer; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States, interested 
     groups, and affected persons--
       (A) to promote awareness of prostate cancer;
       (B) to take an active role in the fight to end the 
     devastating effects of prostate cancer on individuals, 
     families, and the economy; and
       (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

                              S. Res. 279

   Expressing support for the designation of September 24, 2011, as 
                       ``Worldwide Day of Play''

       Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, since 1980, obesity prevalence among children has 
     almost tripled and approximately 12,500,000, or 17 percent, 
     of children and adolescents in the United States are obese;
       Whereas according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 
     study entitled ``The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy 
     Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child 
     Bonds''--
       (1) play is essential to development because play 
     contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional 
     well-being of children and youth;
       (2) play offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage 
     fully with children; and
       (3) despite the benefits derived from play for both 
     children and parents, time for free play has been 
     significantly reduced for some children and youth in the 
     United States;
       Whereas Worldwide Day of Play is the centerpiece of The Big 
     Help, the long-term commitment of Nickelodeon to empower 
     children and families by providing the tools and information 
     children and families need to take action on the issues 
     children and families care about;
       Whereas in each of the 50 States and in 13 countries, 
     including at United States military bases around the globe, 
     children and families celebrate Worldwide Day of Play;
       Whereas on September 24, 2011, Nickelodeon will host the 
     8th annual Worldwide Day of Play;
       Whereas in 2011, in collaboration with the Let's Move! 
     campaign started by First Lady Michelle Obama and the 
     President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, the 
     Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play will be held on the Ellipse 
     in Washington, District of Columbia;
       Whereas September 24, 2011, would be an appropriate date to 
     designate as Worldwide Day of Play: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation of 
     September 24, 2011, as ``Worldwide Day of Play''.

                              S. Res. 280

   Designating the week beginning September 19, 2011, as ``National 
 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week'' and recognizing the achievements 
        of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions play an important 
     role in educating many underprivileged students and helping 
     those students attain their full potential through higher 
     education;
       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are degree-granting 
     institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate 
     enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students;
       Whereas in 2010, there were 307 Hispanic-serving 
     institutions in the United States, enrolling 1,348,436 
     Hispanic students in nonprofit postsecondary schools;
       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the 
     Hispanic-serving institutions are located;
       Whereas 54 percent of Hispanic students in the United 
     States attend nonprofit, postsecondary Hispanic-serving 
     institutions;
       Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-
     serving institutions to the United States strengthens the 
     culture of the United States;
       Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-serving 
     institutions are deserving of national recognition;
       Whereas 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and 
     Universities, an organization that works to improve the 
     capacity of Hispanic-serving institutions in helping students 
     across the United States succeed;
       Whereas the Hispanic Association of Colleges and 
     Universities fulfills its mission by promoting the 
     development of member colleges and universities, improving 
     access to, and the quality of, postsecondary educational 
     opportunities for Hispanic students, and meeting the needs of 
     business, industry, and government through the development 
     and sharing of resources, information, and expertise; and
       Whereas the week beginning September 19, 2011, would be an 
     appropriate week for national recognition of Hispanic-serving 
     institutions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic-
     serving institutions across the United States;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the Hispanic Association 
     of Colleges and Universities throughout the 25 years since 
     the establishment of the organization;
       (3) designates the week beginning September 19, 2011, as 
     ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''; and
       (4) calls on the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, 
     activities, and programs to demonstrate support for Hispanic-
     serving institutions.

                              S. Res. 281

     Designating September 24, 2011, as ``National Estuaries Day''

       Whereas the estuary regions of the United States comprise a 
     significant share of the national economy, with 43 percent of 
     the population, 40 percent of the employment, and 49 percent 
     of the economic output of the United States located in the 
     estuary regions of the United States;
       Whereas coasts and estuaries contribute more than 
     $800,000,000,000 annually in trade and commerce to the United 
     States economy;
       Whereas more than 43 percent of all adults in the United 
     States visit a sea coast or estuary at least once a year to 
     participate in some form of recreation, generating 
     $8,000,000,000 to $12,000,000,000 in revenue annually;
       Whereas more than 28,000,000 jobs in the United States are 
     supported by commercial and recreational fishing, boating, 
     tourism, and other coastal industries that rely on healthy 
     estuaries;
       Whereas estuaries provide vital habitat for countless 
     species of fish and wildlife, including many that are listed 
     as threatened or endangered;
       Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that 
     protect human health and public safety, including water 
     filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization and 
     erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities 
     during extreme weather events;
       Whereas the United States has lost more than 110,000,000 
     acres, or 50 percent, of the wetland of the United States 
     since the first European settlers arrived;
       Whereas bays once filled with fish and oysters have become 
     dead zones filled with excess nutrients, chemical wastes, 
     harmful algae, and marine debris;
       Whereas changes in sea level can impact estuarine water 
     quality and estuarine habitat;
       Whereas the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
     1451 et seq.) declares that it is the national policy to 
     preserve, protect, develop, and if possible, to restore or 
     enhance, the resources of the coastal zone of the United 
     States, including estuaries, for current and future 
     generations;
       Whereas 24 coastal and Great Lake States and territories of 
     the United States contain a National Estuary Program or a 
     National Estuarine Research Reserve System;
       Whereas scientific study leads to better understanding of 
     the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological 
     communities;
       Whereas Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, 
     national and community organizations, and individuals work 
     together to effectively manage the estuaries of the United 
     States;
       Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural 
     infrastructure in local communities in a cost effective 
     manner, helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural 
     functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and
       Whereas September 24, 2011, has been designated as 
     ``National Estuaries Day'' to increase awareness among all 
     people of the United States, including Federal, State and 
     local government officials, about the importance of healthy 
     estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 24, 2011, as ``National Estuaries 
     Day'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries 
     Day;
       (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining 
     employment and the economic well-being and prosperity of the 
     United States;
       (4) recognizes that persistent threats undermine the health 
     of the estuaries of the United States;
       (5) applauds the work of national and community 
     organizations and public partners that promote public 
     awareness, understanding, protection, and restoration of 
     estuaries;
       (6) reaffirms the support of the Senate for estuaries, 
     including the scientific study, preservation, protection, and 
     restoration of estuaries; and

[[Page S5936]]

       (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to continue working 
     to understand, protect, and restore the estuaries of the 
     United States.

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