[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 123--DESIGNATING APRIL 30, 2005, AS ``DIA DE LOS 
      NINOS: CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS,'' AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
Martinez, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 123

       Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially 
     within the Western hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los 
     Ninos'', or ``Day of the Children'' on the 30th of April, in 
     recognition and celebration of their country's future--their 
     children;
       Whereas children represent the hopes and dreams of the 
     people of the United States;
       Whereas children are the center of American families;
       Whereas children should be nurtured and invested in to 
     preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, and the 
     American spirit;
       Whereas Hispanics in the United States, the youngest and 
     fastest growing ethnic community in the Nation, continue the 
     tradition of honoring their children on this day, and wish to 
     share this custom with the rest of the Nation;
       Whereas 1 in 4 Americans is projected to be of Hispanic 
     descent by the year 2050, and as of 2003, approximately 
     12,300,000 Hispanic children live in the United States;
       Whereas traditional Hispanic family life centers largely on 
     children;
       Whereas the primary teachers of family values, morality, 
     and culture are parents and family members, and we rely on 
     children to pass on these family values, morals, and culture 
     to future generations;
       Whereas more than 500,000 children drop out of school each 
     year, and Hispanic dropout rates are unacceptably high;
       Whereas the importance of literacy and education are most 
     often communicated to children through family members;
       Whereas families should be encouraged to engage in family 
     and community activities that include extended and elderly 
     family members and encourage children to explore, develop 
     confidence, and pursue their dreams;
       Whereas the designation of a day to honor the children of 
     the United States will help affirm for the people of the 
     United States the significance of family, education, and 
     community;
       Whereas the designation of a day of special recognition for 
     the children of the United States will provide an opportunity 
     for children to reflect on their future, to articulate their 
     dreams and aspirations, and to find comfort and security in 
     the support of their family members and communities;
       Whereas the National Latino Children's Institute, serving 
     as a voice for children, has worked with cities throughout 
     the country to declare April 30 as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''--a day to bring together 
     Hispanics and other communities nationwide to celebrate and 
     uplift children; and
       Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of 
     all its people, and people should be encouraged to celebrate 
     the gifts of children to society--their curiosity, laughter, 
     faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and dreams: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 30, 2005, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to join with 
     all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, 
     cities, and States across the United States to observe the 
     day with appropriate ceremonies, including activities that--
       (A) center around children, and are free or minimal in cost 
     so as to encourage and facilitate the participation of all 
     our people;
       (B) are positive and uplifting and that help children 
     express their hopes and dreams;
       (C) provide opportunities for children of all backgrounds 
     to learn about one another's cultures and to share ideas;
       (D) include all members of the family, and especially 
     extended and elderly family members, so as to promote greater 
     communication among the generations within a family, enabling 
     children to appreciate and benefit from the experiences and 
     wisdom of their elderly family members;
       (E) provide opportunities for families within a community 
     to get acquainted; and
       (F) provide children with the support they need to develop 
     skills and confidence, and to find the inner strength--the 
     will and fire of the human spirit--to make their dreams come 
     true.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to submit an important 
resolution designating the 30th day of April 2005 as ``Dia de los 
Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans.''
  Nations throughout the world, and especially within Latin America, 
celebrate Dia de los Ninos on the 30th of April, in recognition and 
celebration of their country's future--their children. Many American 
Hispanic families continue the tradition of honoring their children on 
this day by celebrating Dia de los Ninos in their homes.
  The designation of a day to honor the children of the Nation will 
help affirm for the people of the United States the significance of 
family, education, and community. This special recognition of children 
will provide us with an opportunity to reflect on their future, 
articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security 
in the support of their family members and communities. This resolution 
calls on the American people to join with all children, families, 
organizations, communities, churches, cities, and states across the 
Nation to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  Joining me as original co-sponsors to this Resolution are John 
Cornyn, Charles E. Grassley, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mel Martinez, and 
Lisa Murkowski.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in promptly passing this 
Resolution designating April 30, 2005 Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating 
Young Americans.

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