[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 75 (Thursday, May 5, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 618--RECOGNIZING APRIL 30, 2022, AS ``EL DIA DE LOS 
                  NINOS--CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS''

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 618

       Whereas, each year in the United States, El Dia de los 
     Ninos-Celebrating Young Americans is recognized as a day to 
     affirm and recognize the importance of young children and 
     adolescents in the United States;
       Whereas children and adolescents represent the hopes and 
     dreams of the people of the United States, and the well-being 
     of children and adolescents is emphasized as a top priority 
     in the United States;
       Whereas, according to data of the Bureau of the Census, the 
     Hispanic population in the United States is the youngest 
     major racial or ethnic group in the United States, as--
       (1) more than 18,600,000 Hispanics in the United States, a 
     group that represents approximately \1/3\ of the Hispanic 
     population in the United States, are younger than 18 years of 
     age; and
       (2) in 2019, nearly 16,400,000 Hispanics in the United 
     States, a group that represents more than \1/4\ of the 
     Hispanic population in the United States, were individuals 
     between 18 and 34 years of age;
       Whereas the Hispanic population in the United States 
     continues to grow and is a significant part of the workforce 
     in the United States, and children in that population will be 
     consumers, taxpayers, and voters in the future;
       Whereas, as the United States becomes more culturally and 
     ethnically diverse, the people of the United States must 
     strive to bring about cultural understanding and celebrate a 
     tradition that honors all children and adolescents on El Dia 
     de los Ninos-Celebrating Young Americans, a day that 
     acknowledges and shares traditions and customs with all 
     people in the United States;
       Whereas parents are at the center of teaching children 
     about family values, morality, life preparation, health, 
     survival, and culture;
       Whereas the designation of a day of special recognition to 
     honor children and adolescents in the United States--
       (1) will help affirm the significance of family, education, 
     health, and community among the people of the United States; 
     and
       (2) will provide an opportunity for those children and 
     adolescents to reflect on their futures, to articulate their 
     aspirations, to find comfort and security in the support of 
     their family members, communities, and schools, and to grow 
     to contribute to the United States;
       Whereas the National Latino Children's Institute, which 
     served as an advocate and a voice for young Latino children, 
     partnered with States and cities throughout the United States 
     beginning in 1998 to highlight the contributions and 
     challenges of young Latino children by advocating for the 
     success and well-being of such children; and
       Whereas April 30, 2022, would be an appropriate day to 
     recognize as ``El Dia de los Ninos-Celebrating Young 
     Americans'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes April 30, 2022, as ``El Dia de los Ninos-
     Celebrating Young Americans'';
       (2) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to nurture and invest in children and adolescents in 
     order to preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, 
     and the free and open exchange of ideas, which are concepts 
     that are essential to the spirit of the United States; and
       (B) to celebrate the gifts of children and adolescents and 
     to help them take their rightful place in the future of the 
     United States; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to join with 
     children, families, communities, schools, churches, cities, 
     and States across the United States to observe El Dia de los 
     Ninos-Celebrating Young Americans with appropriate 
     ceremonies, including activities that--
       (A) center on children and are free or of minimal cost so 
     as to facilitate full participation by all people;
       (B) uplift and help children positively envision a path to 
     their futures by allowing children to voice their hopes and 
     dreams;
       (C) offer opportunities for children of diverse backgrounds 
     to learn about the cultures of one another and to share 
     ideas;
       (D) include family members, especially extended and elderly 
     family members, so as to--
       (i) promote understanding and communication among 
     generations within families; and
       (ii) enable young people to learn from, and respect and 
     benefit from the experiences of, their family elders;
       (E) enable diverse communities to build relationships of 
     understanding; and
       (F) provide children with safe schools, homes, and 
     communities that give them the long-term support they need to 
     learn, develop, and become confident young adults who are 
     ready and eager to believe in and contribute to the United 
     States.

                          ____________________