[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 587--SUPPORTING ``LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL'', A NATIONAL 
                  CELEBRATION OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

  Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted 
the following resolution; which was:

                              S. Res. 587

       Whereas high-quality afterschool programs provide safe, 
     challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences that help 
     children and youth develop social, emotional, physical, 
     cultural, and academic skills;
       Whereas high-quality afterschool programs support working 
     families by ensuring that the children in those families are 
     safe and productive after the regular school day ends;
       Whereas high-quality afterschool programs build stronger 
     communities by involving students, parents, business leaders, 
     and adult volunteers in the lives of children in the United 
     States, thereby promoting positive relationships among 
     children, youth, families, and adults;
       Whereas high-quality afterschool programs engage families, 
     schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the 
     well-being of children in the United States;
       Whereas ``Lights On Afterschool'', a national celebration 
     of afterschool programs held on October 18, 2012, highlights 
     the critical importance of high-quality afterschool programs 
     in the lives of children, their families, and their 
     communities;
       Whereas more than 28,000,000 children in the United States 
     have parents who work outside the home and approximately 
     15,100,000 children in the United States have no place to go 
     after school; and
       Whereas nearly 2 in 5 afterschool programs report that 
     their budgets are in worse condition today than at the height 
     of the recession in 2008, and more than 3 in 5 afterschool 
     programs report that their level of funding is lower than it 
     was 3 years ago, making it difficult for afterschool programs 
     across the United States to keep their doors open and their 
     lights on: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports ``Lights On 
     Afterschool'', a national celebration of afterschool programs 
     held on October 18, 2012.

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