[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 27720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORTING ``LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL''

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 51, 
submitted earlier today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 51) supporting 
     ``Lights on Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after 
     school programs.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record)
 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today Senator Ensign and I, along 
with 29 cosponsors, are submitting a concurrent resolution with the 
House of Representatives designating October 18, 2007 as Lights On 
Afterschool Day. Lights on Afterschool brings students, parents, 
educators, lawmakers, and community and business leaders together to 
celebrate afterschool programs. This year, more than 1 million 
Americans are expected to attend about 7,500 events designed to raise 
awareness and support for these much needed programs. In addition, 
Lights On Afterschool 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of 21st Century 
Community Learning Centers, the primary Federal initiative supporting 
afterschool programs.
  Approximately 90 percent of parents say that having a safe, positive 
place where their child can go after school will improve their child's 
well-being. However, 14 million school-age children--or 25 percent of 
all school-age children--are left unsupervised after school and miss 
the opportunity to attend a safe, positive place that supports their 
growth and well-being.
  Quality afterschool programs benefit youth, families, and 
communities. Students enrolled in afterschool programs are more likely 
to be engaged and go farther in education. They are also more likely to 
avoid risky behavior and criminal activity. Afterschool programs help 
parents successfully balance their work and home-life. In addition, 
these programs promote adult involvement with youth, which helps to 
create more cohesive communities invested in the future of our 
children.
  In our work on the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Ensign and I 
have been working for more than three years to impress upon our 
colleagues the importance of afterschool and are proud to say that 35 
of our colleagues have joined the Caucus. We hope that they, along with 
other Members of the Congress, will join us on October 18 to celebrate 
the importance of afterschool programs in their communities back 
home.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 51) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 51

       Whereas high quality after school programs provide safe, 
     challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences to help 
     children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, 
     cultural, and academic skills;
       Whereas high quality after school programs support working 
     families by ensuring that the children in such families are 
     safe and productive after the regular school day ends;
       Whereas high quality after school programs build stronger 
     communities by involving the Nation's students, parents, 
     business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of the 
     Nation's youth, thereby promoting positive relationships 
     among children, youth, families, and adults;
       Whereas high quality after school programs engage families, 
     schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the 
     well-being of the Nation's children;
       Whereas ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration 
     of after school programs held on October 18, 2007, promotes 
     the critical importance of high quality after school programs 
     in the lives of children, their families, and their 
     communities;
       Whereas more than 28,000,000 children in the United States 
     have parents who work outside the home and 14,300,000 
     children in the United States have no place to go after 
     school; and
       Whereas many after school programs across the United States 
     are struggling to keep their doors open and their lights on: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals of 
     ``Lights On Afterschool!'' a national celebration of after 
     school programs.

                          ____________________