[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   NATIONAL RELATIVES AS PARENTS DAY

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
212, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 212) to designate August 1, 2000, as 
     National Relatives As Parents Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 212) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 212

       Whereas children are this Nation's most valuable resource;
       Whereas the most important responsibility for this Nation's 
     lawmakers and citizens is the protection and care of 
     children;
       Whereas in order to ensure the future success of this 
     Nation, children must be taught values that will help them 
     lead happy, healthy, and productive lives;
       Whereas the family unit is most suitable to provide the 
     special care and attention needed by children;
       Whereas this year, many children will suffer from child 
     abuse, neglect, poor nutrition, and insufficient child care, 
     all of which jeopardize the well-being of young children and 
     the opportunity for a fulfilling and successful adulthood;
       Whereas extended family members, willing to open their 
     hearts and homes to children whose immediate families are in 
     crises, play an indispensable role in helping those children 
     heal by providing them with a stable and secure environment 
     in which they can grow and develop;
       Whereas approximately 520,000 children are currently under 
     the care and guidance of foster parents--about 150,800, or 29 
     percent, of whom are children living in foster homes with 
     extended family members who care for these children and 
     provide them with a positive home environment; and
       Whereas ``National Relatives as Parents Day'' is an 
     appropriate occasion to recognize the dedication, compassion, 
     and selflessness of extended family members who willingly 
     assume the often thankless responsibility of providing a 
     relative child with a family and home: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 1, 2000, as ``National Relatives as 
     Parents Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Relatives as Parents Day'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

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