[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           IN SUPPORT OF THE GOALS OF A NATIONAL SIBLINGS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to show my 
support for the goals of a National Siblings Day for all Americans, a 
day to honor our sisters and brothers for the many ways in which they 
enrich our lives. This occasion would give us the opportunity to show 
appreciation for our siblings, much the same way that Mother's Day and 
Father's Day are celebrated, and completes the celebration of the whole 
family. One of my Manhattan constituents, Claudia Evart, has worked 
tirelessly to encourage everyone to honor their siblings on April 10th 
each year.
  April 10th marks the birthday of Claudia's sister Lisette, who died 
tragically in 1972 at age 19 in a car accident that also killed their 
father. An additional tragedy struck in 1987, when Ms. Evart's older 
brother, Alan, died in an accident in his home. He was 36 years old.
  Siblings make an important contribution to who we are. Often, when 
our parents are gone, our siblings are our only remaining family. And, 
sometimes, as in the case of my constituent Claudia Evart, Siblings Day 
will help us remember siblings whom we have lost at an early age.
  I applaud these past 12 years of hard work by Claudia Evart who has 
created a loving tribute to her deceased siblings with her work to 
establish a National Siblings Day. Her inspired work should serve as a 
lesson to us all. Since 1998, 31 governors have issued gubernatorial 
proclamations in their states for Siblings Day: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, 
IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, PA, RI, 
SC, VT, VA, WV, WA, WI and WY. Therefore, I now call on the Congress to 
recognize the importance of contributions of all family members, 
including our siblings, by supporting the goals of a National Siblings 
Day for all Americans.

                          ____________________