[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2886-S2888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 441, S. Res. 442, S. Res. 443,
S. Res 444, and S. Res. 445, which were submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions
be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider
laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and
that any statements related to the resolutions be printed in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolutions (S. Res. 441, S. Res. 442, S. Res. 443, S. Res. 444,
and S. Res. 445) were agreed to en bloc.
[[Page S2887]]
The preambles were agreed to en bloc.
The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:
S. Res. 441
(Expressing support for the designation of May 2012 as National Youth
Traffic Safety Month)
Whereas motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
death for youth in the United States;
Whereas thousands of youth are injured or die each year in
motor vehicle crashes;
Whereas on average, 11 youths die each day in motor vehicle
crashes;
Whereas on average, May through August is the deadliest
period for youths on our nation's highways;
Whereas on average, 8 of the top 10 deadliest days for
youths on our nation's highways were between May and August;
Whereas events such as prom and graduation, and the summer
driving season, contribute to the risk of a motor vehicle
crash due to an increase in the amount of time youth spend on
the road and in celebratory activities;
Whereas it is essential to teach our youths that driving is
a privilege and with that privilege comes risks and
responsibilities;
Whereas this education is essential to preventing risky
behaviors that can result in tragic crashes;
Whereas the National Organizations For Youth Safety (NOYS)
established a national youth campaign and National Youth
Traffic Safety Month to draw attention to the increased rate
of motor vehicle crashes involving youth between May and
August, to help enforce youth safe driving laws, and to
support youth and community education on youth traffic
safety; and
Whereas NOYS invites all youths, families, and communities
to participate in National Youth Traffic Safety Month:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses support for the designation of May 2012 as
``National Youth Traffic Safety Month'';
(2) supports youth traffic safety awareness; and
(3) encourages people across the United States to observe
National Youth Traffic Safety Month with appropriate
programs, activities, and ceremonies.
S. Res. 442
(Celebrating the 140th anniversary of Arbor Day)
Whereas Arbor Day was founded in Nebraska City, Nebraska on
April 10, 1872, to recognize the importance of planting
trees;
Whereas it is estimated that on the first Arbor Day, more
than 1,000,000 trees were planted in the State of Nebraska
alone;
Whereas Arbor Day is observed in all 50 States and across
the world;
Whereas participating in Arbor Day activities promotes
civic participation and highlights the importance of planting
and caring for trees and vegetation;
Whereas those activities provide an opportunity to convey
to future generations the value of land and stewardship;
Whereas National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday
of April each year; and
Whereas April 27, 2012, marks the 140th anniversary of
Arbor Day: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes April 27, 2012, as National Arbor Day;
(2) celebrates the 140th anniversary of Arbor Day;
(3) supports the goals and ideals of Arbor Day; and
(4) encourages the people of United States to participate
in Arbor Day activities.
S. Res. 443
(Honoring the life and legacy of Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman)
Whereas Agustin Roman was appointed auxiliary bishop of the
Archdiocese of Miami, Florida in 1979, becoming the first
Cuban to be appointed bishop in the United States;
Whereas Agustin Roman was expelled from Cuba in 1961 by the
regime of Fidel Castro, along with many other Roman Catholic
priests;
Whereas Agustin Roman ministered in Chile for 4 years
before coming to Miami, Florida in 1966, where he quickly
became a spiritual leader and advocate for the Cuban
community in Miami, as well as for many other immigrant
communities, including Haitian refugees;
Whereas Agustin Roman was fluent in Latin, English, French,
and Spanish, and served on the Bishops' Committee for
Hispanic Affairs, worked as a hospital chaplain, and became
episcopal vicar for the Spanish-speaking people of the
Archdiocese of Miami;
Whereas Agustin Roman was the son of humble Cuban peasants,
which influenced his commitment to humility, tenacity, and
unceasing devotion to his ministry in southern Florida;
Whereas Agustin Roman was instrumental in the construction
of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity on Biscayne Bay, which
serves as a monument to the patron saint of Cuba, the Virgin
of Charity of Cobre, and attracts hundreds of thousands of
visitors each year;
Whereas in 1980 Agustin Roman served as a mediator during
the Mariel boatlift incident, helping more than 100,000
Cubans flee the island and safely resettle in the United
States;
Whereas Agustin Roman helped negotiate a peaceful
resolution to the 1987 riots of Mariel prisoner uprisings in
Federal prisons, earning him national recognition for his
compassion, gentility, and humble spirit;
Whereas after his retirement at the age of 75, Agustin
Roman remained active at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity,
greeting visitors and responding to letters from fellow Cuban
exiles; and
Whereas Agustin Roman passed away on Wednesday, April 11,
2012: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes and honors the life of Agustin Roman;
(2) recognizes and honors the spiritual leadership of
Agustin Roman and his dedication to freedom and faith;
(3) offers heartfelt condolences to the family, friends,
and loved ones of Agustin Roman; and
(4) in memory of Agustin Roman, calls on the United States
to continue policies that promote respect for the fundamental
principles of religious freedom, democracy, and human rights
in Cuba, in a manner consistent with the aspirations of the
people of Cuba.
S. Res. 444
(Designating the week of May 1 through May 7, 2012, as ``National
Physical Education and Sport Week'')
Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to
the unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity, which has
more than tripled in the United States since 1980;
Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support
normal and healthy growth in children and is essential to the
continued health and well-being of children;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control,
overweight adolescents have a 70- to 80-percent chance of
becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk for chronic
disease, disability, and death;
Whereas physical activity reduces the risk of heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of
cancers;
Whereas type 2 diabetes can no longer be referred to as
``late in life'' or ``adult onset'' diabetes because type 2
diabetes presently occurs in children as young as 10 years
old;
Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
issued by the Department of Health and Human Services
recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of
physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the
week;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control, only
19 percent of high school students are meeting the goal of 60
minutes of physical activity each day;
Whereas children spend many of their waking hours at school
and, as a result, need to be active during the school day to
meet the recommendations of the Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans;
Whereas nationally, according to the Centers for Disease
Control, 1 out of 4 children does not attend any school
physical education classes, and fewer than 1 in 4 children
get 20 minutes of vigorous activity every day;
Whereas teaching children about physical education and
sports not only ensures that the children are physically
active during the school day, but also educates the children
on how to be physically active and the importance of physical
activity;
Whereas according to a 2006 survey by the Department of
Health and Human Services, 3.8 percent of elementary schools,
7.9 percent of middle schools, and 2.1 percent of high
schools provide daily physical education (or an equivalent)
for the entire school year, and 22 percent of schools do not
require students to take any physical education courses at
all;
Whereas according to that 2006 survey, 13.7 percent of
elementary schools, 15.2 percent of middle schools, and 3.0
percent of high schools provide physical education (or an
equivalent) at least 3 days per week for the entire school
year for students in all grades in the school;
Whereas research shows that fit and active children are
more likely to thrive academically;
Whereas increased time in physical education classes can
help the attention, concentration, and achievement test
scores of children;
Whereas participation in sports teams and physical activity
clubs, often organized by the school and run outside of the
regular school day, can improve grade point average, school
attachment, educational aspirations, and the likelihood of
graduation;
Whereas participation in sports and physical activity
improves self-esteem and body image in children and adults;
Whereas children and youths who partake in physical
activity and sports programs have increased motor skills,
healthy lifestyles, social skills, a sense of fair play,
strong teamwork skills, self-discipline, and avoidance of
risky behaviors;
Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting
children are in the control of the adults and the communities
in which the children live, and therefore, the people of the
United States share a collective responsibility in reversing
the childhood obesity epidemic;
Whereas if efforts are made to intervene with unfit
children to bring those children to physically fit levels,
then there may also be a concomitant rise in the academic
performance of those children; and
[[Page S2888]]
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to increase
physical activity and participation of children and youth in
sports: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 2012, as
``National Physical Education and Sport Week'';
(2) recognizes National Physical Education and Sport Week
and the central role of physical education and sports in
creating a healthy lifestyle for all children and youth;
(3) supports the implementation of local school wellness
policies (as that term is described in section 9A of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1758b)) that include ambitious goals for physical education,
physical activity, and other activities that address the
childhood obesity epidemic and promote child wellness; and
(4) encourages schools to offer physical education classes
to students and work with community partners to provide
opportunities and safe spaces for physical activities before
and after school and during the summer months for all
children and youth.
S. Res. 445
(Expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2012, as ``Silver
Star Service Banner Day'')
Whereas the Senate has always honored the sacrifices made
by the wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas the Silver Star Service Banner has come to
represent the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who
were wounded or became ill in combat in the wars fought by
the United States;
Whereas the Silver Star Families of America was formed to
help the American people remember the sacrifices made by the
wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces by designing and
manufacturing Silver Star Service Banners and Silver Star
Flags for that purpose;
Whereas the sole mission of the Silver Star Families of
America is to evoke memories of the sacrifices of members and
veterans of the Armed Forces on behalf of the United States
through the presence of a Silver Star Service Banner in a
window or a Silver Star Flag flying;
Whereas the sacrifices of members and veterans of the Armed
Forces on behalf of the United States should never be
forgotten; and
Whereas May 1, 2012, is an appropriate date to designate as
``Silver Star Service Banner Day'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation of May
1, 2012, as ``Silver Star Service Banner Day'' and calls upon
the people of the United States to observe the day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
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