[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 739--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE 
 WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 25, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL FAMILY 
                        SERVICE LEARNING WEEK''

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Braun, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
Wicker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Rubio, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 739

       Whereas family service learning is a method under which 
     children and families learn and solve problems together in a 
     multi-generational approach with active participation in 
     thoughtfully organized service that--
       (1) is conducted in, and meets the needs of, their 
     communities;
       (2) is focused on children and families solving community 
     issues together;
       (3) requires the application of college and career 
     readiness skills by children and relevant workforce training 
     skills by adults; and
       (4) is coordinated between the community and an elementary 
     school, a secondary school, an institution of higher 
     education, or a family community service program;
       Whereas family service learning--
       (1) is multi-generational learning that involves parents, 
     children, caregivers, and extended family members in shared 
     learning experiences in physical and digital environments;
       (2) is integrated into and enhances the academic 
     achievement of children or the educational components of a 
     family service program in which families may be enrolled; and
       (3) promotes skills (such as investigation, planning, and 
     preparation), action, reflection, the demonstration of 
     results, and sustainability;
       Whereas family service learning has been shown to have 
     positive 2-generational effects and encourages families to 
     invest in their communities to improve economic and societal 
     well-being;
       Whereas, through family service learning, children and 
     families have the opportunity to solve community issues and 
     learn together, thereby enabling the development of life and 
     career skills, such as flexibility and adaptability, 
     initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural 
     skills, productivity and accountability, and leadership and 
     responsibility;
       Whereas family service learning activities provide 
     opportunities for families to improve essential skills, such 
     as organization, research, planning, reading and writing, 
     technological literacy, teamwork, and sharing;
       Whereas families participating together in service are 
     afforded quality time learning about their communities;
       Whereas adults engaged in family service learning serve as 
     positive role models for their children;
       Whereas family service learning projects enable families to 
     build substantive connections with their communities, develop 
     a stronger sense of self-worth, experience a reduction in 
     social isolation, and improve parenting skills;
       Whereas family service learning has added benefits for 
     English language learners by helping individuals and families 
     to--
       (1) feel more connected with their communities; and
       (2) practice language skills;
       Whereas family service learning is particularly important 
     for at-risk families because family service learning--
       (1) provides opportunities for leadership and civic 
     engagement; and
       (2) helps build the capacity to advocate for the needs of 
     children and families;
       Whereas family service learning programs are equipped to 
     face the unique challenges brought on by the COVID-19 
     pandemic through community engagement via video 
     teleconferencing or in a socially distanced manner;
       Whereas family service learning will remain relevant 
     throughout the pandemic as communities face new challenges 
     such as navigating remote learning, technological literacy, 
     and building and maintaining new relationships within 
     communities; and
       Whereas the value that parents place on civic engagement 
     and relationships within the community has been shown to 
     transfer to children who, in turn, replicate important 
     values, such as responsibility, empathy, and caring for 
     others: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of the week of September 21 
     through September 25, 2020, as ``National Family Service 
     Learning Week'' to raise public awareness about the 
     importance of family service learning, family literacy, 
     community service, and 2-generational learning experiences;
       (2) encourages people across the United States to support 
     family service learning and community development programs;
       (3) recognizes the importance that family service learning 
     plays in cultivating family literacy, civic engagement, and 
     community investment; and
       (4) calls upon public, private, and nonprofit entities to 
     support family service learning opportunities to aid in the 
     advancement of families.

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