[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 25123-25124]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 
 
                 NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH
 
   Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
 proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 324, which was submitted 
 earlier today.
   The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
   The legislative clerk read as follows:
 
        A resolution (S. Res. 324) supporting the goals and ideals 
      of ``National Life Insurance Awareness Month.''
 
   There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
 resolution.
   Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize September 2007 
 as National Life Insurance Awareness Month.
   I speak from personal experience when I say that you should never 
 take for granted that you will always wake up tomorrow in the same 
 condition you are in today. We can never be sure when our time will 
 come, and it is always best to be prepared for the unexpected. An 
 important part of preparedness is financial readiness, and that is why 
 National Life Insurance Awareness Month is needed.
   There are 68 million Americans either with no life insurance or who 
 are underinsured. It is concerning that there is such a large segment 
 of the adult population in this country without proper financial 
 planning tools. In a time of loss, a life insurance policy can mean the 
 difference between having to sell the family home, pulling the kids out 
 of college, or even, in some cases, having enough money to put food on 
 the table. I want to commend the National Association of Insurance and 
 Financial Advisors and the Life Insurance Foundation for Education as 
 well as more than 100 insurance companies for their effort to raise 
 consumer awareness of the important role that 
 
 [[Page 25124]]
 
 life insurance products 
 can play in helping families plan their financial futures.
   I am also pleased that so many of our local financial advisors and 
 financial institutions are already actively involved in helping South 
 Dakotans increase savings and plan financial contingencies for 
 unexpected events. By designating September 2007 as ``Life Insurance 
 Awareness Month,'' I hope that the increased national attention on this 
 issue will further encourage people across America to achieve financial 
 security for themselves and their loved ones.
   Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
 be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
 be laid upon the table.
   The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
   The resolution (S. Res. 324) was agreed to.
   The preamble was agreed to.
   The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
 
                               S. Res. 324
 
        Whereas life insurance is an essential part of a sound 
      financial plan;
        Whereas life insurance provides financial security for 
      families by helping surviving members meet immediate and 
      long-term financial obligations and objectives in the event 
      of a premature death in their family;
        Whereas approximately 68,000,000 United States citizens 
      lack the adequate level of life insurance coverage needed to 
      ensure a secure financial future for their loved ones;
        Whereas life insurance products protect against the 
      uncertainties of life by enabling individuals and families to 
      manage the financial risks of premature death, disability, 
      and long-term care; and
        Whereas numerous groups supporting life insurance have 
      designated September 2007 as ``National Life Insurance 
      Awareness Month'' as a means to encourage consumers to take 
      the actions necessary to achieve financial security for their 
      loved ones: Now, therefore, be it
        Resolved, That the Senate--
        (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Life 
      Insurance Awareness Month''; and
        (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
      schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the 
      citizens of the United States to observe the month with 
      appropriate programs and activities.
 
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