[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2003 AS ``FAMILY HISTORY MONTH''

  The Resolution (S. Res. 175) designating the month of October as 
``Family History Month'' was considered and agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 175

       Whereas it is the family, striving for a future of 
     opportunity and hope, that reflects our Nation's belief in 
     community, stability, and love;
       Whereas the family remains an institution of promise, 
     reliance, and encouragement;
       Whereas we look to the family as an unwavering symbol of 
     constancy that will help us discover a future of prosperity, 
     promise, and potential;
       Whereas within our Nation's libraries and archives lie the 
     treasured records that detail the history of our Nation, our 
     States, our communities, and our citizens;
       Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the 
     world have embarked on a genealogical journey by discovering 
     who their ancestors were and how various forces shaped their 
     past;
       Whereas an ever-growing number in our Nation and in other 
     nations are collecting, preserving, and sharing genealogies, 
     personal documents, and memorabilia that detail the life and 
     times of families around the world;
       Whereas 54,000,000 individuals belong to a family where 
     someone in the family has used the Internet to research their 
     family history;
       Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the 
     world continue to research their family heritage and its 
     impact upon the history of our Nation and the world;
       Whereas approximately 60 percent of Americans have 
     expressed an interest in tracing their family history;
       Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a 
     sense of their heritage and a sense of responsibility in 
     carrying out a legacy that their ancestors began;
       Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who 
     worked so hard and sacrificed so much, their commitment to 
     honor their ancestors' memory by doing good is increased;
       Whereas interest in our personal family history transcends 
     all cultural and religious affiliations;
       Whereas to encourage family history research, education, 
     and the sharing of knowledge is to renew the commitment to 
     the concept of home and family; and
       Whereas the involvement of National, State, and local 
     officials in promoting genealogy and in facilitating access 
     to family history records in archives and libraries are 
     important factors in the successful perception of nationwide 
     camaraderie, support, and participation: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of October 2003, as ``Family 
     History Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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