[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16091-16092]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF A NATIONAL CHILD AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1296) supporting the designation of a 
National Child Awareness Month to promote awareness of children's 
charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States and 
recognizing their efforts on behalf of children and youth as a positive 
investment for the future of our Nation, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1296

       Whereas millions of American children and youth represent 
     the hopes and future of our Nation;
       Whereas numerous individuals, children's organizations, and 
     youth-serving organizations that work with children and youth 
     collaborate to provide invaluable services to enrich and 
     better the lives of the young;
       Whereas heightening awareness of and increasing support for 
     organizations that provide access to healthcare, social 
     services, education, the arts, sports, and other services 
     will assist in the development of character and the future 
     success of our Nation's youth;
       Whereas the President issued a proclamation on May 30, 
     2008, proclaiming June 1, 2008 as National Child's Day to 
     demonstrate a commitment to our youth;
       Whereas September is a time when parents, families, 
     teachers, school administrators, and communities in general 
     increase their focus on children and youth nationwide as the 
     school year begins;
       Whereas September is a time for the people of the United 
     States as a whole to highlight and be mindful of the needs of 
     children and youth;
       Whereas private corporations and businesses have joined 
     with hundreds of national and local charitable organizations 
     throughout the Nation in support of a month-long focus on 
     children and youth; and
       Whereas designating September as National Child Awareness 
     Month would recognize that a long-term commitment to children 
     and youth is in the public interest, and will encourage 
     widespread support for the charities and organizations that 
     seek to provide a better future for the children and youth of 
     the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     designation of a National Child Awareness Month to promote 
     awareness of children's charities and youth-serving 
     organizations across the United States and recognizes their 
     efforts on behalf of children and youth as a critical 
     contribution to the future of our Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert 
extraneous material on H. Res. 1296 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1296 which designates 
September as ``National Child Awareness Month.''
  As the resolution points out, September marks the start of the new 
school year, which is a time when we should all focus our attention on 
the academic, social and economic well-being of our Nation's children.
  The children's charities and youth-serving organizations in our 
communities are important partners in this effort. In many instances, 
these organizations provide basic access to health care, social 
services, and other critical needs. They serve as mentors, friends and 
coaches, and sometimes the volunteers for these organizations are the 
only family a child may have.
  Organizations such as the YMCA, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Clubs, 
the Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Children's Defense Fund, to name 
a few, have provided numerous volunteer hours and volunteers, 
educational assistance and after-school programming for children across 
the country, filling a critical gap in the afternoon hours when 
children are most at risk.
  And so, not only do we want to promote awareness, but I want to thank 
all of these volunteers, all of these individuals who spend so much of 
their time, energy and effort working with children so that they 
provide to communities and families, as well as to the millions of 
other people who need the work that is done each and every day.

                              {time}  2100

  And so, Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for H. Res. 
1296 and urge that my colleagues support this bill.
  I would reserve the balance of my time
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
author of this resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of House 
Resolution 1296, a bipartisan resolution which expresses the sense of 
the U.S. House of Representatives that National Child Awareness Month 
should be established in the month of September
  September is traditionally back-to-school month, a time when families 
focus on preparing children for the coming school year. Recognizing 
September as National Child Awareness Month will heighten the American 
public's attentiveness to the importance of our children's health, 
education, safety and character development through the ongoing efforts 
of numerous organizations and individuals who help protect and nurture 
them. With this resolution we express our support for a month-long 
effort to recognize the importance of children in our society as they 
grow into responsible citizens.
  It is widely recognized that a strong, supportive family unit is the 
most important factor in the well-being of a child. Unfortunately, this 
is no guarantee that every child will have a support system to rely on. 
Thankfully there are many caring organizations that provide for 
children in need.
  Even children with solid support systems benefit from youth-serving 
organizations. They enrich their lives through activities such as 
sports, the arts, philanthropy and further education outside the 
classroom.
  I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the 50 bipartisan 
cosponsors. I would also like to thank the gentlelady from Orange 
County, my Democratic lead cosponsor, Loretta Sanchez, for her efforts 
on behalf of this resolution. In addition, I would like to extend a 
special thanks to the Education and Labor Committee leadership and 
staff for moving the bill quickly. And I look forward to working

[[Page 16092]]

with the Senate to have a companion resolution pass in the Senate 
Chamber. It is my hope that the administration will, by Presidential 
proclamation, also designate September as National Child Awareness 
Month so that the many child-focused programs of the Federal Government 
might be also highlighted.
  Finally, I commend the many local and national youth-serving 
organizations and charities dedicated to the well-being of children.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would continue to reserve.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1296, 
supporting the designation of September as National Child Awareness 
Month.
  The National Child Awareness Month will recognize that a long-term 
commitment to children and youth is in the public interest. This 
designation will also encourage widespread support for the charities 
and organizations that seek to provide a better future for the children 
and youth of the United States.
  With that, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for 
introducing this bill. I ask for my colleagues' support in designating 
September as National Child Awareness Month.
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor 
to recognize the many charities across this nation that serve children, 
and to support H. Res. 1296.
  Declaring September as National Child Awareness Month will provide an 
excellent collaborative opportunity for children's charities and youth-
serving organizations by bringing national attention to issues of vital 
concern to our children such as education, healthcare, social service, 
active living, arts and character development.
  Children's charities and youth-serving organizations come in all 
shapes and sizes from the Boys and Girls Club to the Saint Joseph 
Ballet in Santa Ana, California. However, no matter the size, their 
mission is to improve the lives of the children they serve.
  The enhanced awareness of children's charities and youth-serving 
organizations, that will be made possible by this resolution, will 
assist these organizations' efforts to raise needed funding and to 
encourage volunteers to become involved in the lives of the most 
disadvantaged children in their communities.
  This Congress has made many symbolic gestures in support of children 
in the past. It is my hope that this resolution will have a greater 
impact resulting in the official declaration of September as National 
Child Awareness Month.
  Ms. FOXX. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Calvert) for his introduction of this very 
meaningful legislation.
  I have no further speakers, and I would yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yarmuth). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1296, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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