[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19225]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    NATIONAL VETERANS AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 304, which was 
reported by the Judiciary Committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Fitzgerald). The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 304) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the development of educational programs on 
     veterans' contributions to the country and the designation of 
     the week that includes Veterans Day as ``National Veterans 
     Awareness Week'' for the presentation of such educational 
     programs.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed, the amendment to the 
title be agreed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 
any statement relating to this resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 304) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 304

       Whereas tens of millions of Americans have served in the 
     Armed Forces of the United States during the past century;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their 
     lives while serving in the Armed Forces during the past 
     century;
       Whereas the contributions and sacrifices of the men and 
     women who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in 
     maintaining our freedoms and way of life;
       Whereas the advent of the all-volunteer Armed Forces has 
     resulted in a sharp decline in the number of individuals and 
     families who have had any personal connection with the Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas this reduction in familiarity with the Armed Forces 
     has resulted in a marked decrease in the awareness by young 
     people of the nature and importance of the accomplishments of 
     those who have served in our Armed Forces, despite the 
     current educational efforts of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs and the veterans service organizations; and
       Whereas our system of civilian control of the Armed Forces 
     makes it essential that the country's future leaders 
     understand the history of military action and the 
     contributions and sacrifices of those who conduct such 
     actions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Secretary of Education should work with the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Day National 
     Committee, and the veterans service organizations to 
     encourage, prepare, and disseminate educational materials and 
     activities for elementary and secondary school students aimed 
     at increasing awareness of the contributions of veterans to 
     the prosperity and freedoms enjoyed by United States 
     citizens;
       (2) the week that includes Veterans Day be designated as 
     ``National Veterans Awareness Week'' for the purpose of 
     presenting such materials and activities; and
       (3) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe such week with 
     appropriate educational activities.

  The title was amended so as to read:

       Resolution Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 
     development of educational programs on veterans' 
     contributions to the country and the designation of the week 
     of November 5, 2000, as ``National Veterans Awareness Week'' 
     for the presentation of such educational programs.

                          ____________________