[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12839-12840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              FATHER'S DAY

  Mr. KYL. Madam President, first, I have been here for most of the 
remarks of the senior Senator from West Virginia, who has this evening 
caused me to reflect on my father on this Father's Day. I am sad to say 
that my father has now passed on, and that fact has caused me to think 
about things I probably should have thought a lot more about before he 
left. But it is good to be reminded of the qualities we look for in 
fathers and in our fathers, those who have led the way for us, and that 
as Father's Day approaches, I join my colleague from West Virginia in 
suggesting that we would all do well not only to think back on our 
fathers and set a good example but to think about what makes a good 
father in everything we do, and in whatever our roles are, to try to 
follow those precepts. I appreciate the important words spoken by the 
Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I want to take a few moments to reflect 
on an important holiday coming up this weekend--Father's Day.
  On Sunday, families across America will celebrate their dads with 
lunches and dinners, homemade gifts, and, if my family is typical, some 
gentle teasing. It is a day we show our gratitude, and we remember how 
important our dads are in our lives.
  I was very close to my dad, and I cherish my memories of him.
  When I lived in Nashville, I used to drive by my parents' house 
everyday on my way to work. And everyday, no matter where I was, I 
would call to touch base and say hello.
  My father was a man of extraordinary kindness and generosity. He was 
known throughout the community for his good works.
  Before he died, he wrote a letter to his grandchildren, passing on 
his humble wisdom collected over a lifetime. In it, he told them:

       ``Be happy in your family life. Your family is the most 
     important thing you can ever have. Love your wife or your 
     husband. Tell your children how great they are. Encourage 
     them in everything they do.
       ``Be happy in your community. Charity is so important. 
     There's so much good to do in the world and so many different 
     ways to do it.''

  He also wrote that,

       ``I believe that life is made up of peaks and valleys. But 
     the thing to remember is that the curve is always going up. 
     The next peak is a little higher than the previous peak, the 
     next valley isn't quite so low.
       ``The world is always changing, and that's a good thing. 
     It's how you carry yourself in the world that doesn't 
     change--morality, integrity, warmth, and kindness are the 
     same things in 1919 when I was born, or in 2010 or later when 
     you will be reading this. And that's a good thing, too.''

  I have worked hard to live up to his high ideals and the sterling 
example he set before us. And I have worked hard to instill these 
values in my own sons Bryan, Jonathan and Harrison. If I have half 
succeeded, that is a very good thing.
  As we celebrate our fathers this weekend, I also encourage everyone 
to reflect on the importance of fathers to the social fabric.
  The National Fatherhood Initiative, a non-profit devoted to promoting 
responsible fatherhood, reports that today's fathers are more present 
in their children's lives than ever. Dads in two-parent families spend 
more time with their children than the previous generation of dads. 
Research also indicates that today's fathers are more active and more 
nurturing.
  And it has a big impact.
  Children with involved, loving fathers--as compared to children 
without--are more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-
esteem, show empathy, and avoid drug use, truancy, and criminal 
activity. The bottom line is kids do better when their dads are around. 
For a while America forgot just how important dads are, but now we know 
in our heads what we have always known in our hearts.
  So, this Father's Day, we salute them. Dads on the front line who 
risk their lives for our freedom. Dads on the home front who go to work 
everyday to support their families. America honors you as everyday you 
honor us.

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